U.S. presses Kenya to reform maize trade rules as demand for feed grain surges

KENYA – The United States has intensified calls for Kenya to eliminate its 50% import tariff and stringent regulatory barriers on U.S. maize exports, citing a lucrative KES 6.47 billion (US$49 million) maize feed market that could grow by 30% by 2027.

In a post on social media platform X, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer criticized Kenya’s maize import regime as one of several unfair trade practices American exporters face globally.

Greer emphasized that securing equitable market access is essential for American farmers to compete fairly. He noted that the combination of steep import tariffs and complex regulatory requirements effectively blocks U.S. corn exports to Kenya, despite growing demand for feed grains in the region.

Kenya currently imposes a 50% ad-valorem duty on maize imports from countries outside the East African Community (EAC), in line with the EAC’s Common External Tariff (CET).

However, maize from EAC member states, such as Tanzania and Uganda, enters duty-free. This policy has come under scrutiny, with the World Bank warning that the high import tariff exacerbates food insecurity and inflation in Kenya, especially during periods of domestic crop failure.

To mitigate such challenges, Kenya occasionally waives the import duty.

For instance, the Kenyan government recently declared a 50% duty waiver on the importation of 5.5 million bags of yellow maize over the next year to cushion Kenyans from soaring unga prices. 

The call followed the surge in the price of a 90-kilogram bag of maize observed over the past three months of 2025. New reports indicate the price has hit KES 4,800 (US$42.72), a 45% jump, with projections indicating a further increase to KES 5,500 (US$48.95) by April.

The government was responding to a call from industry leaders, including the Poultry Breeders Association of Kenya (PBAK) and AKEFEMA, urging the government to take immediate action. Their primary demand was a waiver on maize import duties to stabilize prices and ensure sufficient supply in the market.

In May 2022, the government of Kenya temporarily exempted 540,000 metric tonnes of maize from non-EAC nations from the tariff. Later in July, all import levies on maize and animal feed were suspended for 90 days to cushion consumers from soaring food prices.

Despite these efforts, Kenya has struggled to meet its maize import targets from the EAC member states.

In 2023, after opening a duty-free import window for 900,000 tonnes of maize to stabilize prices, only 28.83% of the volume was realized in four months due to global price fluctuations and domestic import regulations.

Additionally, Kenya’s maize imports from Tanzania fell by 41.78% in the 2022/2023 marketing year due to Tanzanian export restrictions. Traders were required to set up registered offices in Dar es Salaam and secure permits, prompting Kenya to diversify its sources, turning to Zambia and South Africa to meet demand.

As a result, the U.S. continues to advocate for the removal of trade barriers to ensure American farmers can compete fairly in Kenya’s maize market.

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