Kenya’s leather exporters are predicting a better year as the US and China move to end their three-year trade wars.

A Chinese delegation is expected in Washington on January 13 for the signing of phase 1 of a trade treaty in what could end the tariff wars that have underpinned President Donald Trump’s first term in office.

Industry players said they expect the improved trade relations between the two States to translate to increased uptake of their goods in traditional export markets.

“The biggest importer of leather is China but its economy has not been doing well due to the wars with the US,” Mr Fahd Faisel, managing director of Nakuru Tanners told the Business Daily by phone.

“I used to export to China, India and Pakistan but things have been getting tough over the three years and as we speak, I have not been able to export anything in the last eight months.”