{
  "id": 4452824,
  "title": "Inside Kenya’s 98.2% duty-free access to China market",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/inside-kenyas-98-2-duty-free-access-to-china-market",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-30T16:05:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/business/inside-kenyas-98-2-duty-free-access-to-china-market"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kenyan exporters are benefiting from duty-free entry into the Chinese market under an Early Harvest Agreement, according to a report from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya. This arrangement allows about 98.2% of Kenyan tariff lines to enter China without tariffs. Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam described the agreement as an early step towards a comprehensive free-trade pact.\n\nThe duty-free regime took effect on May 1, 2026, with horticulture and fresh produce among the main beneficiaries. Ombam noted that these products faced import duties of between 10 and 25% before the tariff change, but can now enter China at zero tariff. Tea, coffee, cut flowers, and avocados also gained duty-free access. Kenya already earned $20 million from avocado exports to China before the tariff changes.\n\nThe government aims to tap into a market of about 1.4 billion Chinese consumers, not just with raw agricultural products, but also with value-added exports such as avocado oil, packaged coffee, leather, and processed hides. However, exporters must comply with requirements like registering with Kenyan authorities, following sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and obtaining certification from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). The expanded access to China is expected to benefit farmers, processors, and exporters as Kenya aims to increase the volume and value of goods sold abroad.",
  "summary": "Kenyan exporters are gaining wider access to the Chinese market under an Early Harvest Agreement that provides duty-free entry for about 98.2 per cent of Kenyan tariff lines. The arrangement, described by Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam as an early step towards a comprehensive free-trade agreement, targets products that Kenya can supply to China while […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Kenyan exporters enjoy duty-free access to China's market under Early Harvest Agreement.",
    "98.2% of tariff lines can enter China without tariffs, effective May 1, 2026.",
    "Horticulture, fresh produce, tea, coffee, cut flowers, and avocados benefit from duty-free regime."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}