Kenya has launched a high-level, inter-agency body, the National Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee, to strengthen its export competitiveness and defend local industries from mounting non-tariff barriers.
According to reports, this plan involves over 50 institutions to steer the country’s global trade strategy, which aims to strengthen the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry.
In other words, the Committee marks a pivotal step in reinforcing Kenya’s role in international commerce and regulatory diplomacy. This includes participation from key agencies such as the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
The Committee’s primary role is to ensure that Kenya complies with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TBT Agreement while championing the country’s interests in regional blocs like the East African Community (EAC), COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It will also be responsible for reviewing and issuing official notifications to the WTO on regulatory developments that could impact trade.
The launch comes amid rising trade hurdles, particularly in the agricultural sector, where Kenyan exports have faced increasing rejections due to changing health, safety, and quality requirements in overseas markets. The inclusion of industry voices like the Kenya Flower Council and the Fresh Produce Exporters Association indicates a strong government-industry alignment aimed at real-time policy responsiveness.
Designed to be proactive and technically robust, the Committee will advise on regulatory best practices, monitor international trade developments, and propose reforms to keep domestic standards aligned with global benchmarks. KEBS will serve as the Secretariat, acting as the central point for trade-related technical enquiries and managing data that support trade negotiations and dispute resolution.
With the authority to create subcommittees, mobilize technical experts, and implement a five-year strategic roadmap, the Committee is positioned to operate autonomously while being fully embedded in Kenya’s trade governance structures.
Its formation is especially timely as Kenya faces shifting global trade dynamics. New U.S. tariffs have challenged the preferential access once granted under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), placing pressure on key export sectors like apparel. Meanwhile, trade flows are tilting away from traditional European markets toward Asian partners such as China, India, and the UAE.
The National TBT Committee is now tasked with ensuring that changing global standards do not become hidden barriers for Kenyan products but rather, opportunities to strengthen compliance, build capacity, and assert Kenya’s voice in shaping the rules of international trade.
