Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are among the world’s largest importers of second-hand clothing from Western countries and China, but growing calls to curb the trade are running into economic reality.
The multi-billion dollar used clothing industry provides affordable garments for millions of East Africans while supporting thousands of jobs in sorting, transport, and retail. However, critics argue it has devastated local textile manufacturing and turned the region into a dumping ground for the developed world’s castoffs.
Efforts to ban or restrict used clothing imports have been met with fierce resistance from traders who depend on the trade for their livelihoods. Past attempts by East African Community nations to phase out imports were abandoned after pressure from the United States, which threatened trade sanctions.
Policymakers now face a delicate balancing act: protecting and growing domestic textile industries without destroying the informal economy that millions of citizens rely on for affordable clothing.
Source: BBC Africa
