China Grants Kenya Duty-Free Market Access for Agricultural Exports From May

Kenyan farm exports will begin entering the Chinese market duty-free from May 1, 2026, a move aimed at unlocking new opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses within the world’s second-largest economy.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the development following a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan, highlighting it as the implementation stage of trade agreements secured during President William Ruto’s state visit to China.

The zero-tariff access will apply to key Kenyan exports, including tea, coffee, fresh and frozen avocados, macadamia nuts, flowers, fresh horticultural produce, vegetables, and herbs.

Previously, these products faced tariffs that reduced their competitiveness in the Chinese market. Tea and coffee attracted duties of 6 to 15 per cent, macadamia nuts 10 to 15 per cent, fresh horticultural produce and vegetables 10 to 25 per cent, and cut flowers about 4 per cent.

Kagwe said the removal of tariffs presents a major opportunity for Kenyan farmers and exporters to access China’s market of more than 1.4 billion consumers.

He urged businesses to scale up production and shift toward exporting processed and value-added products rather than raw commodities.

“We want to see more value addition happening here in Kenya,” Kagwe said, noting that processing products such as coffee, macadamia, and avocados locally could significantly boost farmer incomes and create employment across the supply chain.

He called for deeper collaboration between Kenyan and Chinese companies to establish agro-processing industries in Kenya, saying such partnerships could help strengthen agricultural value chains and increase export earnings.

Ambassador Guo said agricultural trade between Kenya and China has been steadily growing. In 2025, Kenya’s coffee and tea exports to China reached $24.46 million, representing 10.8 per cent of total agricultural exports to China with 8.8 per cent year-on-year growth.

Exports of fresh and frozen avocados and macadamia nuts reached $19.9 million, accounting for 8.8 per cent of agricultural exports.

Guo said China is committed to expanding agricultural cooperation under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework, including supporting market access, strengthening value chains, and enhancing technical cooperation.

To safeguard Kenya’s export reputation, Kagwe directed the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) to enforce strict quality control measures to ensure all agricultural shipments meet international and Chinese phytosanitary standards.

KEPHIS Chief Executive Officer Professor Theophilus Mutui attended the meeting and is responsible for export certification and phytosanitary compliance.

Kagwe also expressed interest in expanding technology transfer, agricultural training, and student internships, particularly through the Kenya School of Agriculture.

The move forms part of a broader expansion of economic cooperation between Nairobi and Beijing, with agriculture increasingly emerging as a key pillar of the relationship alongside infrastructure development and industrial investment.

The duty-free access follows Early Harvest Arrangements under the Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development reached between the two countries.

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