African trade ministers will meet on April 14, 2025, to discuss the potential impact of new tariffs imposed by the U.S. under President Donald Trump. The tariff, set at 10 percent, will affect imports from over 100 countries, including those from the African continent. This upcoming meeting will include policymakers, economists, and trade experts, aiming to formulate a strategy for Africa in the face of growing global protectionism.
The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, addressed the media in Washington, D.C., calling the U.S. tariff a “wake-up call” for Africa. He stressed the importance of African nations speeding up efforts to reduce their dependency on global powers by increasing intra-Africa trade and economic self-sufficiency.
Mene’s comments echo concerns among African leaders regarding the broader trend of economic nationalism and unilateral trade policies by major economies. The African response will be pivotal, given that the new U.S. tariff could negatively affect the competitiveness of African exports, including textiles, agricultural products, raw materials, and manufactured goods.
Many African countries benefit from preferential trade agreements, like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows their goods to be exported to the U.S. at reduced or zero tariffs. However, the imposition of new tariffs may undermine these benefits, prompting the need for a coordinated African approach to address the growing challenges posed by protectionist trade policies globally.
Source: Citi Newsroom