NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 23 – Kenyan firms were affected by trade policies introduced by US President Donald Trump last year, according to a new survey by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).
The CBK CEOs Survey indicates that US trade tariffs and policy changes continued to weigh on several sectors of the Kenyan economy.
Last year, President Trump imposed a 10 percent global baseline tariff on imports from multiple countries, including Kenya, making it more expensive for local companies to export goods to the United States.
However, the new taxes were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States on February 20, 2026, with the court faulting the President for overstepping his mandate.
In response, Trump announced plans to reimpose a 10 percent levy on all goods being imported into the US.
“In particular, the professional services, ICT, hospitality, financial services and wholesale and retail trade sectors were reported to be the most affected,” the CBK report stated.
“While some firms identified positive opportunities arising from the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preferences, others, particularly in the hospitality and health sectors, continue to face operational pressures linked to reduced donor funding,” it added.
Earlier this month, the US government extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act to 2026, allowing Kenyan firms continued duty-free access to the American market.
