Kenya’s exports to the USA reached a record level during Q3, 2018. According to Business Daily Africa, which cites Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics, the country exported products valued at Ksh14.23 billion to the USA during the period under review. This represents a rise by Ksh1.12 billion on a year to year basis and by Ksh1.77 billion compared to the value of products exported during Q2, 2018.

For the USA, this rise also shows the success of the politics of the current president who favors bilateral exchanges over multilateral relations since this performance is achieved following the commercial agreement reached by the two countries in late June 2018.

The exports were spurred by the textiles, which was the cause of disputes between Washington and East African countries in 2018. That year, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda stood against the imports of second-hand clothes from the USA. They expressed their will to end this trade to develop their local clothing industry. In view of the sanction threats brandished by the USA, all of these countries retracted except Rwanda which paid the price.

Let’s note that the USA is now the leading destination for Kenya’s exports, ahead of Pakistan.

Aaron AKINOCHO