The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has called on US President Donald Trump to consider reviewing the 10 per cent tariff he placed on Kenyan exports.
Responding to Trump's recent move, where he signed a new executive order imposing reciprocal tariffs on trade with Kenya, KAM's Chief Executive, Tobias Alando, argued that the tariff will affect Kenya's export price competitiveness in the US.
Previously, Kenya's exports were protected from the tariff by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is slated to expire in September 2025. "Kenya's exports to the US, previously duty-free under AGOA, will now be subjected to additional costs, reducing their market competitiveness and therefore impacting Kenya's total exports of 737.3 million dollars realized in 2024," KAM said in a statement dated April 4.
A photo collage of President William Ruto (left) and US President Donald Trump PCS Further, KAM is calling for an extension of AGOA beyond September, arguing that the act has had a significant economic and social impact on Kenya, creating over 58,000 jobs directly and over 100,000 jobs indirectly.
