Trump Slaps Tariffs on Kenyan Goods: Coffee, Tea, and Apparel Affected

Kenya’s exports to the United States are set to take a hit as former U.S. President Donald Trump imposes new tariffs on global imports—including those from Nairobi. In a sweeping policy move announced Wednesday, Trump unveiled a 10 percent reciprocal tariff targeting 185 countries, including Kenya, in a bid to balance trade and penalize what he termed as “currency manipulation and unfair trade barriers.”

According to the White House, Kenya has long charged the U.S. a 10 percent tariff. Under Trump’s new policy, the U.S. will now impose an equivalent 10 percent tariff on all imports from Kenya. The move is likely to affect Kenya’s key exports to the American market, such as coffee, tea, and apparel.

In 2024, Kenya’s total goods trade with the U.S. stood at $1.5 billion. Of this, Kenya exported goods worth $737.3 million (approximately Ksh.95.3 billion), representing a 17.5 percent decline from 2023. Meanwhile, imports from the U.S. into Kenya soared by 61.4 percent to $782.5 million (Ksh.101 billion).

“We are concerned about the potential effects of these tariffs on our export sector, particularly for small-scale farmers and manufacturers who rely heavily on the U.S. market,” said a trade policy analyst in Nairobi. “This could disrupt jobs and livelihoods.”

Since 2000, Kenya has enjoyed tariff-free access to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), but that agreement is set to expire in September. The timing of Trump’s tariff move has raised questions about the future of U.S.-Africa trade relations.

Kenya is not alone in this new tariff regime. Other African nations—including Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda—are also facing the base 10 percent tariff. Meanwhile, countries like Nigeria (14%), Malawi (17%), Zimbabwe (18%), DRC (11%), Zambia (17%), and Mozambique (16%) have been hit with even higher rates.

The hardest-hit African nation is Lesotho, which reportedly charges a 99 percent tariff on U.S. imports. In retaliation, the Trump administration has imposed a 50 percent tariff on Lesotho’s exports.

Other affected countries include Mauritius (40%), Botswana (37%), Algeria (30%), and Tunisia (28%)—each facing reciprocal tariffs based on their existing import duties on U.S. goods.

The Trump administration confirmed that the tariffs will come into effect on April 9.

As Kenyan exporters brace for impact, stakeholders are urging the government to accelerate trade diversification and explore new markets to minimize over-reliance on U.S. demand.

“We must start preparing for a post-AGOA world,” a senior economist in Nairobi noted. “These developments show us that dependency on any single market can be risky. It’s time to look inward and strengthen regional trade within Africa.”

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Trump Slaps Tariffs on Kenyan Goods: Coffee, Tea, and Apparel Affected