African nations that faced steep Trump tariffs get some relief but
mostly more uncertainty
[April 11, 2025] By
GERALD IMRAY
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — African nations that faced some of the
steepest reciprocal tariffs from the Trump administration were given a
moment of relief Thursday by the suspension of the duties, only for new
uncertainties to hang over key businesses sending clothing and textiles,
vanilla and fruit to the United States.
Lesotho, Madagascar and South Africa were threatened with some of the
highest tariff rates under U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan.
Lesotho, a tiny mountain kingdom, was stunned by the 50% duties that
were due to come into effect Wednesday before Trump announced a 90-day
pause on the levies. It was the second highest tariff rate after China.
“This will give us the opportunity to negotiate the reduction of tariffs
so that the playing field is levelled,” Lesotho Trade and Industry
Minister Mokhethi Shelile said in response to the suspension. “It’s a
serious issue for us, but we are tackling it head-on.”
Many like Lesotho had already sent trade delegations to Washington or
were willing to negotiate, with some of their most important industries
and tens of thousands of jobs hinging on the outcome.
Lesotho makes American clothing brands
Nearly half of Lesotho’s 30,000 clothing and textile workers depend on
jobs making apparel for American brands like Levi’s, Nike, Reebok and
others, which are exported to the U.S. Clothing and textiles is the
biggest private employer in the country of just 2.3 million people.
Lesotho’s most pressing problem is that regional competitors like Kenya
and Eswatini had been assigned much lower tariffs for their exports —
some as much as 40% lower. Officials warned that the competitive
disadvantage would likely shut down more than a dozen Lesotho factories
and eliminate more than 12,000 jobs unless they can significantly reduce
their 50% tariff rate in negotiations.
“The problem arises when countries like Eswatini receive a 10% tariff
while we’re hit with 50%. These are the very countries we compete
against,” Shelile said.
Lesotho’s clothing industry had braced itself for the 50% tariffs this
week, with some saying it was the sector's worst time since the COVID-19
pandemic.
“I don’t fully understand what’s happening, but I heard on the radio
that our jobs are at risk,” said machine operator Mareitumetse Lesia,
who was on a lunch break during a nine-hour shift stitching together
Levi’s jeans in one factory. “I hope it’s not true. I know what it’s
like to have nothing to eat.”
The world's biggest vanilla producer
In Madagascar, which produces 80% of the world’s vanilla, that industry
“felt better” as soon as the tariffs suspension was confirmed, said
Georges Geeraerts, the president of the Madagascar Vanilla Exporters
Group. Madagascar had faced 47% duties on exports to the U.S.
[to top of second column] |
Matumelo Manosa, center, works in a garment factory in Maseru,
Lesotho, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Neo Ntsoma, file )
But there were other complications. Exporters were now rushing their
vanilla to the U.S. — by far Madagascar’s biggest market — in the hope
that it would arrive while tariffs are still suspended. Cargo ships take
70-90 days to reach the U.S. from the Indian Ocean island and exporters
didn’t know what duties might be imposed when the product got there
given the abrupt changes in policy by the Trump administration.
“All our American customers have been asking us since this morning to
load the vanilla onto the cargo ships, so that we can meet the
deadlines,” said one exporter, who spoke on condition of anonymity
because they weren't authorized to speak publicly about the orders.
A 25-year-old trade agreement facing termination
South Africa’s citrus industry said the original 30% tariffs for its
country had threatened 35,000 jobs and the economies of entire towns
that are geared to exporting oranges and other citrus fruits to the U.S.
when they are out of season in North America.
The suspension of the reciprocal tariffs gave South Africa's biggest
agricultural export “breathing space,” said Citrus Growers' Association
of Southern Africa CEO Boisthoko Ntshabele. But they also faced the new
reality that the first citrus fruit of the year going to the U.S. this
week from South Africa would be taxed at the 10% across the board tariff
the U.S. has kept in place — still a significant blow, though less
severe than the 30% duties initially announced.
South African citrus had previously been given tariff-free access to the
U.S. under the 25-year-old African Growth and Opportunity Act that
benefits dozens of African nations. Many fear that agreement will not be
renewed when it expires in September. South African Trade Minister Parks
Tau said it would be “very difficult” to keep AGOA given the Trump
administration's stance.
Ntshabele said South Africa's citrus growers were urging that their
product be exempt from tariffs given they worked in tandem with U.S.
farmers to provide fruit to American consumers at different times of the
year.
“South African citrus growers do not directly threaten the jobs or
incomes of citrus growers in places like California, Florida and Texas,”
Ntshabele said.
___
Associated Press writers Keketso Phakela in Maseru, Lesotho, and Sarah
Tetaud in Antananarivo, Madagascar contributed to this report.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
