Kenya and Iran have agreed to form a joint committee that will work to remove trade barriers within 60 days, paving the way for the lifting of a ban on Kenyan tea exports to the Middle Eastern nation.

The agreement was reached during the 7th Session of the Kenya–Iran Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) held in Nairobi, co-chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Iran’s Minister of Agricultural Jihad, Dr. Gholamreza Nouri Ghezalcheh.

The ban was triggered by a criminal trade malpractice involving Kenyan firm Cup of Joe Limited, which, according to investigations, imported low-grade tea, blended it, and re-exported it to Iran as premium Kenyan tea.

The Tea Board of Kenya has since deregistered the company, which now faces prosecution.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said both governments had resolved to introduce stringent regulations to safeguard the integrity of Kenyan tea exports.

“Kenya’s tea sector is one of our largest foreign exchange earners, and we must protect it from unscrupulous traders who damage our reputation,” he said.

Trade data shows that in 2023, Kenya exported 12.4 million kilograms of tea to Iran, valued at KSh4.28 billion, down from 17.8 million kilograms worth KSh5.85 billion the previous year.

The embargo has dealt heavy financial blows to farmers and exporters.

The newly formed joint committee will craft a framework to restore confidence, enforce quality standards, and resume exports before the end of the 60-day timeline.