Trump Tariffs Threaten African Economies, End AGOA

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed substantial tariffs on several African nations, significantly impacting their economies. South Africa faces a 31% tariff on exports to the U.S., threatening its automotive industry, a crucial sector for local employment, particularly in the Eastern Cape. Lesotho, a small kingdom heavily reliant on U.S. trade, was hit with a 50% tariff, the highest levied by the Trump administration, jeopardizing its textile industry and overall economic stability. The tariffs, part of Trump's broader trade protectionism strategy, have ended the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which provided African countries preferential access to U.S. markets. Ghana also faces a 10% tariff, prompting calls for a strategic shift towards intra-African trade to mitigate impacts. These measures reflect a shift in U.S. trade policy, moving away from long-standing free trade principles.