- Kenya-UK relations are heading for escalated tensions over the issue of Kenya’s impending ban on second-hand imports of buses and trucks. The UK government has expressed concern that the embargo will cut the exports of used commercial vehicles from the country.
Kenya-UK relations are heading for escalated tensions over the issue of Kenya’s impending ban on second-hand imports of buses and trucks. The UK government has expressed concern that the embargo will cut the exports of used commercial vehicles from the country. The ban which was set to be implemented from July 1 was frozen by the court.
The UK exports a considerable number of second-hand Ford and Fiat prime mover trucks and Caterpillar construction and mining equipment to Kenya. The imports of used vehicles of more than seven metres in length were banned by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) in April to be effective from July 2022. Trucks with load capacities of 3.5 tonnes and above also came under the ban. Imports of tractor heads and prime movers up to three years old were allowed until June 2023. After 2023, only new units were to be allowed into Kenya. However, the notice was suspended in early July.
The dispute may snowball into a major challenge for bilateral trade. Post-Brexit, Kenya and UK signed a fresh trade deal in December 2020 allowing duty-free access of Kenyan goods to the UK market. Betty Maina, the Industrialisation and Trade secretary, said that the Kenya-United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Council will take up the matter. The EPA Council includes ministerial representatives from both countries and is responsible for the smooth implementation of the trade deal, which came into force in March 2021. It is also expected to resolve trade disputes between the two countries, as and when they arise.
Also read;
https://trendsnafrica.com/post-brexit-uk-scales-up-its-engagement-in-kenya/
