South Africa has removed trade restrictions on Kenyan tea exports, ending a period of retaliatory barriers that had constrained one of East Africa’s key agricultural export sectors, officials said during a state visit by President William Ruto.
The decision effectively restores smoother access for Kenyan tea into South Africa, Africa’s most industrialised economy, after years of tariffs and stringent phytosanitary requirements that had significantly reduced trade flows.
The restrictions were initially imposed in response to Kenya’s tariffs on South African steel exports, highlighting how trade disputes between the two countries had escalated into reciprocal market barriers.
During a joint business forum, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed the lifting of the measures, describing them as part of broader efforts to resolve outstanding trade irritants and strengthen bilateral economic ties.
“Earlier today we said no, it is time to stop this nonsense,” Ramaphosa said, referring to the removal of barriers on Kenyan tea imports. He added that both countries had agreed to explore ways of reducing non-tariff barriers that had hindered trade.
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President William Ruto welcomed the move, saying it would help unlock greater commercial exchange between the two economies and improve market access for Kenyan producers.
“We are aware that there still are some tariff and non-tariff barriers that constrain trade between our two countries,” Ruto said, adding that the talks provided an opportunity to “straighten them out and make it much easier and less restrictive for our businesspeople to trade.”
Kenya’s tea industry, one of the country’s largest foreign exchange earners, had been particularly affected by the restrictions, with exporters facing higher compliance costs and reduced market competitiveness in South Africa.
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The easing of barriers is expected to revive shipments and improve earnings for Kenyan tea producers, many of whom are smallholder farmers linked to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA).
Stanbic Bank Regional Chief Executive Officer Joshua Oigara said the move could help boost intra-African trade, which has been expanding rapidly compared to global averages.
“Intra-regional trade growth in East Africa is rising by between 30 and 40 percent annually, making it the most trade-integrated part of the continent,” Oigara said, adding that financial institutions were supporting farmers to improve quality and competitiveness.
Kenya and South Africa have historically maintained strong but uneven trade relations, with Pretoria exporting significantly more goods to Nairobi than it imports.
In 2025, Kenya imported goods worth about US$585 million from South Africa, while exports to South Africa stood at just US$54.4 million, leaving Nairobi with a substantial trade deficit.
South African President Ramaphosa said the latest agreement was intended to help rebalance trade flows and strengthen Kenya’s access to regional markets.
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“Among the outcomes we seek is substantial growth in the volume and value of trade between Kenya and South Africa,” he said, noting that bilateral trade had grown modestly in recent years but remained below its potential.
Analysts say the removal of restrictions on tea exports could mark a turning point in efforts to deepen economic integration between Africa’s largest and fastest-growing regional economies.
The agreement also comes at a time when Kenya is actively seeking to diversify export destinations amid geopolitical tensions that have disrupted traditional markets, including reduced demand from parts of the Middle East.
Trade experts argue that reducing non-tariff barriers is crucial for unlocking Africa’s intra-continental trade potential, which remains relatively low despite growing political commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
For Kenyan tea exporters, the reopening of the South African market is expected to provide a timely boost, though industry players say sustained growth will depend on improved competitiveness, logistics efficiency and stable trade policy frameworks between the two countries.
