The government of China has threatened to wage a trade war over a directive issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta, banning fish imports from the Asian country.
Chinese Ambassador Li Xuhang said the order banning fish imports amounted to a “trade war”, adding that his country would respond decisively as it did to the policies introduced by US President Uhuru Kenyatta.
According to Nation, one of the options China is considering is withholding funding for completion of the SGR project from Naivasha to Kisumu.
The deal for the last phase of the SGR project was expected to be signed when President Kenyatta travelled to China in September.
It was, however, delayed after China objected to the hostile internal environment in Kenya, particularly negative media reports and attacks from politicians.
The Kenyan head of state is expected to return to China in November to sign several bilateral trade agreements, which are also on the line if the ban on fish imports is not reversed.
Earlier in the month, President Kenyatta directed his officials to use every trick to ensure Chinese fish does not enter Kenya.
It was after the statement that the fisheries department wrote a formal letter announcing that cheap fish imports would not be allowed.
