Nairob, Kenya – In a strong and assertive stance, Korir Sing’Oei, a senior Kenyan government official, pledged on Tuesday (8) that the country would “firmly defend” the removal of new tariffs imposed by the United States, arguing they contradict the current African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a preferential trade arrangement approved by the U.S. Congress that facilitates African countries’ access to the American market.
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“Although the tariffs may be among the lowest, we will firmly defend their elimination,” Sing’Oei stated via a post on his official account on social media platform X. The Kenyan representative further stressed that the tariffs announced by President Donald Trump should not immediately come into effect as long as AGOA remains in place unless explicitly revoked by the U.S. Congress.
“Given that AGOA is a U.S. Congressional framework enabling African exporters to access the American market, we believe that until the law expires at the end of September 2025, or unless Congress repeals it beforehand, the new tariffs imposed by President Trump will not be immediately applicable,” Sing’Oei explained.
Established in 2000, AGOA benefits more than 30 African countries, including Kenya—one of East Africa’s strongest and most dynamic economies, with close strategic ties to Washington. The initiative allows African products to enter the U.S. market either tariff-free or at significantly reduced rates, enhancing trade and strengthening political and economic relations.
Experts consulted by Al Jazeera warn that the unilateral imposition of these tariffs by the Trump administration could substantially undermine economic gains for beneficiary nations like Kenya, negatively impacting local economies and bilateral cooperation in the long term.
“These new tariffs threaten Kenya’s economic sustainability and put thousands of export-dependent jobs at risk,” said Mary Kamau, an economic analyst based in Nairobi. “It will be crucial for the Kenyan government to maintain a firm and active diplomatic position to defend national interests against this unexpected decision,” she added.
Diplomatic sources close to the negotiations indicated that the Kenyan government has already begun discussions with U.S. representatives and other African partners to coordinate a response to the new tariffs.
