African Exporters Catch a Break from U.S. Tariffs — For Now

African nations that faced steep Trump tariffs get some relief but mostly more uncertainty

Several African nations breathed a temporary sigh of relief after the U.S. suspended steep reciprocal tariffs that had been set to take effect under the Trump administration. Countries like Lesotho, Madagascar, and South Africa were hit especially hard, with tariff rates as high as 50%. Lesotho, whose economy heavily relies on textile exports for American brands like Levi’s and Nike, warned that the 50% tariff could shut down factories and cost over 12,000 jobs. The pause offers Lesotho a chance to negotiate lower rates and level the playing field with regional competitors like Kenya and Eswatini, which faced significantly lower tariffs.

In Madagascar, which supplies 80% of the world’s vanilla, exporters rushed to ship goods before the 90-day suspension ends. They had been preparing for 47% duties, which could disrupt the country’s largest export industry. Similarly, South Africa’s citrus industry narrowly avoided a 30% tariff that would have affected 35,000 jobs and devastated entire export-dependent towns. While the country now faces a reduced 10% tariff, concerns remain over the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a 25-year-old agreement that previously ensured tariff-free access for many African exports to the U.S.

All three nations are calling for fairer trade terms and continued access to the U.S. market to protect jobs and industries that are vital to their economies.