Kenya and Iran Form Joint Committee to Lift Tea Export Ban Within 60 Days

In Summary

• Kenya and Iran establish joint committee to resolve trade barriers within 60 days.
• Move aims to lift Iran’s ban on Kenyan tea exports, imposed due to a trade scandal.
• Ban triggered by Cup of Joe Limited’s fraudulent export of low-grade tea.
• Iran imported 13 million kg of Kenyan tea worth KSh 4.26 billion in 2024.
• Committee to enforce stricter regulations and restore trust in Kenyan tea quality.
• Challenges include ensuring compliance and addressing farmer losses from the ban.

Kenya and Iran have agreed to form a joint committee to address trade obstacles within 60 days, paving the way for lifting Iran’s ban on Kenyan tea exports, as announced during the 7th Session of the Kenya-Iran Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) in Nairobi on August 12, 2025.

Co-chaired by Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Iran’s Minister of Agricultural Jihad, Dr. Gholamreza Nouri Ghezalcheh, the initiative follows a diplomatic dispute caused by a Kenyan company, Cup of Joe Limited, which fraudulently exported low-grade tea as premium Kenyan tea, leading to the ban.

The committee will draft strict regulations to prevent future trade malpractices and ensure compliance with quality standards, aiming to resume exports before the 60-day deadline.

Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe emphasized the tea sector’s importance, stating, “Kenya’s tea is a major foreign exchange earner, and we must protect its reputation from unscrupulous traders.”

In 2024, Iran imported 13 million kg of Kenyan tea worth KSh 4.26 billion, making it one of Kenya’s top 10 tea markets, though it trails Pakistan’s 34.7% share of exports (KSh 70 billion).

The ban has caused significant losses for Kenyan tea farmers, with 2023 exports to Iran dropping to 12.4 million kg (KSh 4.28 billion) from 17.8 million kg (KSh 5.9 billion) in 2022.

The committee’s framework will focus on restoring trust, with the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) deregistering Cup of Joe Limited and pursuing its prosecution.

This effort aligns with Kenya’s broader agricultural goals, including stricter quality controls and market expansion, but challenges remain in enforcing regulations and mitigating farmer losses during the ban.

The JCC also explored cooperation in climate-smart agriculture, aiming to strengthen bilateral trade ties.