United States President Donald Trump has fired a stern warning to Kenya over what his administration termed as unfair trade practices, following the imposition of a 50 percent tariff on U.S. corn exports to the country.
Through a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Trade on Monday, April 7, the Trump administration accused Kenya of erecting barriers that effectively block American agricultural products, particularly corn, from accessing its market.
“Kenya imposes a 50 percent tariff on imports of U.S. corn, and enforces burdensome regulatory requirements, effectively blocking U.S. exports,” the Department stated. It further noted that the Kenyan market for feed corn is currently valued at $50 million (Ksh6.4 billion), with projections indicating a potential 30% growth by 2027.
In response, President Trump warned of “impending consequences” in line with his “America First” policy, aimed at protecting American producers from what he described as “the exploitation of America.”
“Securing market access for American farmers will ensure they can compete on a level playing field,” Trump said.
The 50% tariff imposed by Kenya applies to countries outside of the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), including the U.S. Kenyan officials have defended the move as part of the EAC’s Common External Tariff (CET), designed to protect local farmers from external competition and promote self-sufficiency in maize production.
Historically, Kenya has waived certain agricultural tariffs temporarily in cases of domestic shortages or price spikes. However, the latest confrontation may test diplomatic ties between the two nations.
As part of the fallout, President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, April 2, imposing a 10 percent baseline tariff on all Kenyan exports to the United States. The order is expected to hit Kenya’s Ksh109.7 billion ($784 million USD) trade with the U.S., particularly affecting key sectors such as textiles, tea, and coffee — all of which have previously benefited from duty-free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Analysts warn the tariffs could trigger reduced exports, job losses, and decreased revenues for Kenyan businesses reliant on the U.S. market.
In response to the escalating situation, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi acknowledged the economic strain the U.S. policy shift could cause. Speaking during the Inaugural Africa Exchange Meeting in Nairobi on April 7, Mudavadi said the government would act swiftly to support sectors most impacted by the changes.
“Kenya will take longer to recover from the impact of such abrupt policy shifts, but we are engaging stakeholders to cushion the blow and explore new market opportunities,” he stated.