Kenya and several U.S. trading partners are set for relief after the Supreme Court of the United States invalidated a series of global tariffs introduced by former President Donald Trump.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, the court found that the former president overstepped his legal authority in imposing broad trade levies on multiple countries, a move that had triggered diplomatic tension and uncertainty across global markets.
The judgment comes at a crucial moment for Nairobi, as Kenya has dispatched a delegation to Washington for talks aimed at securing a new bilateral trade framework with the United States. Kenyan exporters — particularly those in the apparel sector — are expected to benefit significantly from the decision.
In April 2025, the Trump administration announced a 10 percent tariff on exports from Kenya and several East African nations. The move marked a sharp departure from the preferential trade terms these countries had enjoyed under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which granted eligible African states duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 20 years.
The tariffs affected major Kenyan exports, including textiles, coffee, and tea, and were introduced as part of a broader “reciprocal trade” policy targeting countries perceived to impose barriers on American goods.
With the court’s decision now overturning the measures, Kenyan trade officials and exporters are optimistic that stability will return to one of the country’s most valuable export destinations.