State pushes China to drop tariffs on coffee, tea, avocados

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has intensified negotiations with China, urging Beijing to remove high tariffs on Kenya’s top agricultural exports and expedite long-pending approvals for key products.

During a meeting with senior officials from the General Administration of China Customs (GACC), Kagwe pushed for faster clearance of export pathways for coffee, tea, avocados, mangoes, dried chillies, green grams, dried fruits and various livestock products.

The high-level Chinese delegation was led by GACC Vice Minister Wang Jun, accompanied by senior directors from duty collection, quarantine and international cooperation, alongside Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan.

Kagwe said the current tariffs placed Kenyan farmers at a disadvantage.

“Our products face high duties, 8 per cent on non-roasted coffee, 20 per cent on roasted coffee, 15 per cent on tea and up to 20 per cent on avocados,” he told the officials.

He added: “We are asking China to accelerate the move toward zero duty so that our farmers finally benefit from fair access to this important market.”

He noted that Kenya-China trade remains heavily skewed.

In 2024, Kenya imported goods worth $4.5 billion(Sh583,875 million) from China, yet our exports stood at only $290 million(Sh37,627,500,000).

“This imbalance is unsustainable. We must correct it through deliberate and urgent measures," Kagwe said.

Kagwe said Kenya and China are close to concluding a bilateral trade framework that will eliminate tariffs on major Kenyan exports, but delays in signing and activation are creating anxiety among farmers.

“The commitments made between President Ruto and President Xi Jinping must now move from promise to action,” he said adding that the rural producers cannot wait any longer.

He explained that Kenya has completed nearly all technical submissions required by Beijing.

KEPHIS has finalised protocols for fresh mangoes, dried chillies, green grams, dried fruits and plant-based medicinal materials.

“Kenya is fully ready. All that remains is China’s final approval so that large-scale shipments can begin,” he said.

Beyond tariff issues, the CS also pushed for deeper cooperation in agricultural research, value chain development, laboratory capacity and specialist training, including the exchange of scientists and technical staff. 

He said clearing livestock export applications, some pending for more than two years, would be a historic breakthrough, especially if Kenyan meat gains access to the Chinese market. 

Kagwe said Kenya is prepared, aligned and committed, urging that policy promises now be turned into real export volumes and expanded market access for Kenyan farmers.