East Africa wants to curb imports of used clothes. But it's not easy
East Africa is facing challenges in curbing imports of used clothing, particularly in Kenya and Uganda. The region's markets are flooded with second-hand garments, making it difficult for local fashion industries to thrive. Recent tax measures have been introduced to protect local manufacturers, but they have sparked backlash from traders who argue for a free economy.
- ▪Kenya is Africa's leading importer of second-hand clothing, receiving almost 180,000 tonnes in 2022.
- ▪Uganda has introduced a 30% tax on used clothing imports to support local production and address environmental concerns.
- ▪Critics argue that the second-hand clothing trade, while providing jobs, does not significantly contribute to the local economy.
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| Original publisher | BBC News |
| Canonical URL | https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2l2k5pxrgdo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss |
| Publication time | Sat, 23 May 2026 23:55:13 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-24T07:49:30.290Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-24T07:59:39.788Z |
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East Africa wants to curb imports of used clothes. But it's not easy8 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleWedaeli ChibelushiAnadolu via Getty ImagesGikomba in Nairobi is just one of many huge markets dedicated to worn clothing in East AfricaNot even heavy rain can keep shoppers away from Gikomba, a lively Kenyan market that stands as the largest open-air trading hub in East Africa.Sections of the site were waterlogged on the day the BBC visited, yet shoppers, some wearing rubber boots, still inched their way through the congested pathways, hunting for Gikomba's speciality - second-hand clothing.The trade in garments imported from the US, Europe and China poses a perennial problem for the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc of which Kenya is a member.
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