Identifying Barriers for Red Meat to be Addressed in a U.S.-Kenya FTA

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is preparing to enter free trade agreement negotiations with the Republic of Kenya. As part of this process, USTR accepted public comments identifying key issues to be addressed in a U.S.-Kenya agreement.

USMEF submitted comments identifying barriers that inhibit U.S. red meat exports to Kenya, which are explained in more detail by Cheyenne McEndaffer, USMEF director of export services. At the top of this list is Kenya’s applied most-favored-nation tariff rate of 25% across all beef and pork products. USMEF also highlighted several non-tariff barriers and potential trade obstacles, including concerns about Kenya’s burdensome import license system, restrictions on transshipment of products en route to Kenya and a lack of clarity on import veterinary drug residue and microbiological standards.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. It is funded by USDA; the beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs, as well as its members representing nine industry sectors: beef/veal producing & feeding, pork producing & feeding, lamb producing & feeding, packing & processing, purveying & trading, oilseeds producing, feedgrains producing, farm organizations and supply & service organizations. USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law. USMEF is an equal opportunity employer and provider.