Today marks the opening of a new opportunity for Kenyan flower farmers and exporters as the UK waives duty fees on fresh cut flowers. This eight percent fee suspension is poised to enhance earnings for local farmers and bolster the sector’s growth, which faced a downturn last year.
Running until June 2026 with a possibility of extension, this initiative aims to facilitate easier and more cost-effective trade between flower-growing countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and the UK. Unlimited quantities of flowers can now be exported to the UK at zero percent tariff, even if they transit via third countries, signaling a significant win for East African flower growers.
Despite a decline in Kenya’s cut flower exports in 2023, the duty suspension is anticipated to drive medium to long-term growth in the sector. Organizations like ASNET are optimistic that this relief will not only boost earnings but also create new job opportunities, fostering further development in the agriculture sector.
John Humphrey, the UK’s trade commissioner for Africa, hailed the duty suspension as an additional “flower power” that will allow trade to flourish between the UK and East Africa. With the UK-Kenya economic partnership agreement in place, both countries are set to benefit from duty-free access to each other’s markets, paving the way for enhanced trade relations and economic prosperity.
