5 key bilateral trade deals Kenya signed in 2025
By Aloys Michael, December 27, 2025Kenya intensified its economic diplomacy in 2025, signing a series of bilateral trade and economic agreements aimed at expanding markets, reducing barriers to business and strengthening ties with key partners.
The deals reflect the country’s push to grow exports, attract investment and support regional and global trade integration.
From neighbouring Ethiopia to partners in West Africa, Europe and Asia, the agreements focus on easing the movement of goods and people, improving trade systems and opening new opportunities for Kenyan businesses.
Together, they signal Kenya’s effort to use trade partnerships as a driver of economic growth and job creation.
Kenya and Ethiopia
In December 2025, Kenya and Ethiopia signed a simplified border trade agreement in Addis Ababa designed to make cross-border business easier, especially for small traders.
The deal reduces paperwork, sets clear thresholds for eligible goods and streamlines customs procedures at border points.
Officials said the agreement will help traders move agricultural produce, household goods and other everyday items more quickly and at a lower cost.
Border communities, many of which depend on informal trade, are expected to benefit as more business shifts into the formal economy.
The pact also supports the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by lowering barriers to intra-African trade.
Kenya and Senegal visa agreement
In October 2025, Kenya and Senegal signed a visa-free travel agreement allowing citizens of both countries to visit each other for up to 90 days without a visa.
While not a traditional trade treaty, leaders from both countries described it as a strategic economic move.
The agreement is expected to boost business travel, tourism and investment links between East and West Africa. By making it easier for entrepreneurs and professionals to move, the two governments hope to encourage trade in services, support business partnerships and strengthen people-to-people ties that underpin commerce.
China and Kenya
Kenya and China deepened their economic cooperation in April 2025 through a new partnership framework signed during high-level talks in Beijing.
The agreement expanded market access for Kenyan agricultural exports such as avocado, coffee, tea and macadamia nuts, while also supporting investment in manufacturing and infrastructure.
In December 2025, Kenya threw its weight behind a proposal by the United States Administration to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for one more year, a temporary but crucial reprieve now awaiting approval by the U.S. Congress.
Kenyan officials said the framework aims to diversify export destinations and add value to local production.
China, one of Kenya’s largest trading partners, reaffirmed its support for infrastructure and industrial projects that can improve productivity and create jobs.
The deal is seen as part of Kenya’s broader effort to balance trade and increase exports to Asian markets.
Kenya–Sweden green deal
In May 2025, Kenya and Sweden signed a bilateral trade support agreement focused on sustainability and inclusion.
The programme targets improvements in trade infrastructure, greener port operations and stronger support for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those owned by women and youth.
The initiative aims to help Kenyan exporters meet international environmental standards while reducing delays and costs along trade corridors.
Kenya–Morocco port and logistics cooperation
Kenya and Morocco also agreed in 2025 to strengthen cooperation in port management and logistics.
The arrangement focuses on sharing expertise, improving efficiency and linking trade routes between the Indian Ocean and Atlantic corridors.
Better port cooperation could reduce non-tariff barriers, lower shipping costs, and help Kenyan exporters reach new markets in West Africa, Europe and beyond.
While largely technical, the cooperation is seen as a practical step toward smoother and faster movement of goods.