This archive report was first published on 13 January 2020.
On January 13, 2020, China announced a significant reduction in the duty levied on avocado exports from Kenya, slashing it from 30 percent to seven percent.
According to Trade Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo, the decision was reached following negotiations with China last week.
Dr. Kiptoo emphasized that the reduced tariffs will benefit ordinary Kenyan farmers who want to export produce to the Beijing market.
However, China has maintained tough handling conditions, including the freezing of export fruits, which may cast doubts on the optimism about small exporters.
"China has just agreed to lower the tariffs from 30 percent and this move will benefit our farmers, especially the small-scale holders," Dr. Kiptoo said.
The Kenyan government is targeting the 1.5 billion market in China, and even if they get a hundred million people buying Kenyan avocados, it would boost farmers' earnings significantly.
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) is overseeing the export of avocados and has expressed concerns that the conditions set by China might limit small-scale holders from accessing this market.
China wants Kenyan farmers and traders to freeze the fruits to negative 30 degrees after peeling off the skin and chill further to negative 18 degrees while in transit to the destination.
