On Tuesday night, Kenyan MPs ratified the Kenya-United Kingdom trade agreement, setting the stage for duty-free access to their markets. Mandera South MP and Trade Committee chairman Adan Haji moved to allay fears that the Kenya-UK Economic Partnership Agreement will open the floodgates for the ‘dumping of agricultural goods.’ The MP emphasized that the object of the agreement is aligned to Kenya’s food security agenda.
Kenyan vegetable exports command a 43 per cent share of the UK market, cut flowers do the same at 9 per cent.
“The export potential in the UK for Kenya products was valued at about Sh20 trillion in 2019. If Kenya were to target this potential will raise the market share in the UK by five per cent. It will translate to exports worth Sh1 trillion, an ambition that Kenya is pursuing,” Adan said.
According to the-star.co.ke¸ the agreement is hailed as one that would support Kenyans working in these sectors by maintaining tariff-free market access to the UK.
Nyando MP Jared Okello said the agreement will open up markets for Kenya in the UK. The Trade Committee has listed products designated by Kenya as sensitive, attracting hefty import duties if sourced from the UK.
An array of agriculture products will also not be exempted in the UK-Kenya agreement whether in raw and processed form. These will include fresh and chilled potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic, vegetables of all kinds - cabbage, sprouts, lettuce, cucumbers, mushrooms peas, beans, and so on.
Fresh and chilled fruits - cashew nuts, bananas, pineapples avocados, mangoes, pawpaw, watermelons, and apples will not be exempt from duties.
