African Trade Ministers to Convene on April 14 to Tackle Trump's Tariff Impact
Washington, D.C., USA - 08 April, 2025 - African trade ministers are set to convene on April 14 to discuss the implications of President Donald Trump's new tariff policy, which will impose a 10% tax on goods imported from over 100 countries, including many African nations.
The meeting aims to explore how the continent can respond to growing global protectionism and reduce its reliance on external powers.
The US tariff move has sparked concerns about the potential impact on African economies, which rely heavily on exports such as textiles, agricultural produce, and raw materials. Many of these exports are currently traded under preferential access agreements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The new tariff could increase the cost of African exports to the US, making them less competitive in the American market.
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
In response to these challenges, African leaders are emphasizing the need to accelerate intra-African trade and economic self-sufficiency.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a flagship project of the African Union's Agenda 2063, aims to create a single market for goods and services, promoting sustainable development and enhancing Africa's global trading position. It also seeks to promote economic integration by reducing reliance on external powers and accelerating intra-African trade. Furthermore, the AfCFTA aims to enhance the competitiveness of African economies within the continent and the global market.
Secretary-General Wamkele Mene has called the US tariff a "wake-up call" for Africa, highlighting the urgent need for the continent to fast-track its economic integration and reduce reliance on external powers.
“President of the United States has given us a wake-up call. And the wake-up call is that we must accelerate our own economic self-sufficiency. The ministers of trade will meet on April 14 to deliberate on this matter and exactly how our continent should respond,'' he said while addressing the media from Washington, D.C.
Source: Lead News Online
