Kenya’s fish export industry could face fresh challenges following a new directive from US President Donald Trump that seeks to reduce America’s dependence on foreign seafood.
The executive order, signed earlier this week, signals a major policy shift aimed at revitalizing domestic production while tightening control over imports. Though primarily targeted at empowering US fishermen, the ripple effect could hit countries like Kenya that depend on access to foreign markets for their seafood.
In the directive, the US government outlines a plan to boost its fishing sector by reviewing existing regulations and clamping down on what it describes as unfair practices by international suppliers.
“It is the policy of the United States to promote the productive harvest of our seafood resources; unburden our commercial fishermen from costly and inefficient regulation; combat unlawful, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and protect our seafood markets from the unfair trade practices of foreign nations,” a statement from the White House said.
While the order focuses on strengthening American competitiveness, it also introduces stricter standards on imported seafood, particularly around environmental sustainability, labor conditions, and traceability.
For Kenya, which has been working to grow its fisheries sector and expand exports, especially to Western markets, this shift could pose significant hurdles. Industry players warn that smaller economies may struggle to meet the new criteria quickly, potentially losing access to the lucrative US market.
The executive order calls on US agencies to audit current rules and make changes that prioritize the interests of American producers. As a result, seafood imports that fail to meet US sustainability and labor benchmarks may soon be locked out of the market.
Although not named directly, Kenya finds itself among the nations that could be unintentionally sidelined not due to bad practices, but due to a growing gap between trade expectations and the resources needed to meet them.
