UK objects to Kenya’s high taxes on its products
The United Kingdom is protesting higher import duty taxes imposed by Kenya on some of its products.
The East African country applied tariffs of 35% on imported whisky from the UK per the East Africa Community (EAC) Customs Union.
This is 10% higher than the 25% figure agreed on for import duty on whiskies from Britain under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed between both countries.
The UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement allows products from Britain including whiskies, cars, and car parts to be charged a levy of 25%.
Principal Secretary for Trade Alfred Ombudio K’Ombudo noted that the UK requested the removal of the higher tariff which contradicts the regional bloc’s CET (common external tariff).
He also noted that a technical working committee has been set up by Kenya’s trade department to address the issue.
“This was formerly presented as a grievance by the UK before the EPA Council. We are in consultation with various State agencies including the Kenya Revenue Authority, the National Treasury, and Kenya Bureau of Statistics (KEBS),” The Nation quoted K’Ombudo.
