Trump’s New Tariffs Target Top African Exporters With Higher Rates

BREAKING NEWSApril 3, 2025 at 10:52 AM UTC

TLDR

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariff policy will impose new import duties on over 180 countries, including dozens in Africa
While most nations face a baseline 10% tariff, countries that impose higher duties on U.S. exports will now be hit with steeper rates
Trump’s administration describes the move as a corrective response to what it sees as unfair foreign tariffs and trade barriers

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariff policy will impose new import duties on over 180 countries, including dozens in Africa. While most nations face a baseline 10% tariff, countries that impose higher duties on U.S. exports will now be hit with steeper rates.

The hardest-hit African nations include Lesotho (50%), Madagascar (47%), Mauritius (40%), Botswana (37%), Angola (32%), Libya (31%), South Africa (30%), Algeria (30%), Tunisia (28%), and Côte d’Ivoire (21%). These countries currently impose tariffs on U.S. goods ranging from 41% to 99%.

The policy marks a departure from previous U.S. trade frameworks like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allowed duty-free access to the U.S. for many African exports. Trump’s administration describes the move as a corrective response to what it sees as unfair foreign tariffs and trade barriers. Critics warn the policy could trigger retaliation and destabilize long-standing trade relationships, especially with African economies heavily reliant on U.S. markets.

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Key Takeaways

The new tariff policy could undermine Africa’s most favorable trade channels with the U.S., particularly for top exporters like South Africa, Mauritius, and Côte d’Ivoire. These countries have leveraged AGOA to access U.S. markets with minimal duties, exporting everything from textiles and apparel to minerals and agricultural products. Trump’s approach introduces uncertainty into these relationships. By imposing tariffs of up to 50% on countries like Lesotho and Madagascar, the U.S. is signaling a shift from preferential trade to transactional arrangements. This may push African economies to strengthen ties with China, the EU, and Gulf states, which have continued expanding economic partnerships on the continent. In the long term, African nations may accelerate intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to reduce exposure to external policy shocks. Without renewed bilateral agreements or carve-outs, the U.S. risks losing its competitive edge as a trade partner in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.

Economy

United States

Donald Trump

Exports

Trade

AGOA

Tariffs