Kenya has signed a post-Brexit trade agreement with the United Kingdom, ensuring continued preferential access for its exports after the UK officially exits the European Union at the end of 2020. The deal, announced on 3 November, allows Kenyan goods to maintain duty- and quota-free entry into the UK market, safeguarding the interests of East African Community (EAC) exporters in sectors such as horticulture, coffee, tea, and spices. Trade Secretary Betty Maina highlighted that the agreement mirrors the previously ratified EU-EAC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), granting long-term, predictable market access and supporting continued economic engagement with one of Kenya’s key trading partners.
The agreement comes amid complex EU-UK negotiations and the looming end of the transitional period under the Withdrawal Agreement. While African exporters previously benefited from EU preferences, including quota-free access and simplified customs procedures, the UK’s departure posed potential challenges, including higher tariffs and stricter customs supervision under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Kenya’s proactive negotiations seek to prevent such disruptions, aligning the terms of the bilateral agreement with those agreed with the EU and allowing other EAC countries to join in the future. Key exports such as flowers, vegetables, and coffee are expected to benefit directly, while UK exporters will also maintain access to the Kenyan market, which imported £815 million in goods and services from the UK in 2019.
Reactions within the EAC have been mixed. While Kenya celebrates the deal as a safeguard for its export economy, some member states, including Uganda and Rwanda, have expressed concerns that Nairobi’s unilateral approach could undermine the customs union’s single-market framework. Regional trade experts warn that harmonizing external trade deals with the EAC’s common external tariff will be critical to prevent internal market disruptions. Looking ahead, Kenya has already begun parallel trade talks with the United States, signaling a broader strategy to diversify trade partnerships and strengthen the country’s position in global markets amid the post-Brexit economic landscape.