Kenyan exporters can breathe a sigh of relief after the United States spared the country from a new wave of sweeping import tariffs targeting several global and African economies.
On Thursday, July 31, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing steep tariffs—ranging between 10 and 41 percent—on goods imported from a wide range of trading partners, as part of Washington’s ongoing efforts to restructure the global trade order.
Major economies hit by the new tariffs include Brazil, India, Japan, Israel, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
In Africa, South Africa and Algeria were among the hardest hit, with a 30 percent duty imposed on their exports to the US. A 15 percent tariff was also slapped on goods from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Cameroon, Botswana, and Angola.
Other countries affected by the same 15 percent hike include Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Among East African nations, only Uganda featured in the list of affected countries.
Kenya was not listed among the countries targeted by the new measures, meaning Kenyan exports will continue to face a standard 10 percent US import duty—unchanged under the new directive.
According to the White House, the decision to impose tariffs followed failed negotiations with several countries that did not provide what Washington considered “adequate” solutions to trade imbalances.
“The Secretary of Commerce and the US Trade Representative shall recommend additional action, if necessary, should a foreign trading partner fail to take adequate steps to address the emergency declared in Executive Order 14257,” the executive order states.
The tariff changes will take effect seven days after the order’s signing. However, affected goods already en route—loaded onto ships before August 7—will be exempt from the new duties.
The executive order marks the latest move in Trump’s trade-first foreign policy, aimed at rebalancing economic relationships globally.
