Faith Nyasuguta
US President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on all imports from Lesotho, making it the second hardest-hit country globally after China. The new tariff, part of a broader policy targeting countries Trump accuses of “unfair trade practices,” could severely impact Lesotho’s economy, which relies heavily on exports to the United States.
The small southern African nation has long maintained a trade surplus with the US, largely due to its textile and diamond industries. Lesotho’s garment factories have been a key supplier of jeans for major American brands such as Levi’s and Wrangler, benefiting from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows eligible African countries to export certain goods to the US without facing tariffs. However, Trump’s new trade policies appear to threaten AGOA’s future, raising concerns about the economic impact on African nations.
Beyond Lesotho, the US has introduced additional tariffs for dozens of other countries, including 20 in Africa. Madagascar faces a 47% tariff, Mauritius 40%, Botswana 37%, and South Africa 30%. Even Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, will be hit with a 14% tariff, while Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Senegal, and Liberia will see their exports subjected to a 10% baseline tariff.
During Wednesday’s announcement at the White House, Trump justified the tariffs as necessary to counteract what he described as decades of economic exploitation by foreign nations. “Our taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but it is not going to happen anymore,” he said. Holding up a chart listing countries with high tariffs on US goods or other trade restrictions, Trump declared, “This is our declaration of economic independence.”
Lesotho’s reliance on the US as a key trading partner makes the 50% tariff particularly devastating. In 2022, the US accounted for approximately 28% of Lesotho’s total trade, second only to South Africa. According to White House data, in 2024, the US exported just $2.8 million worth of goods to Lesotho, while importing $237.3 million in return. The 50% tariff appears to be based on the trade imbalance, as US officials calculated Lesotho’s trade surplus with America to determine the rate.
The impact of the tariff is expected to be severe, as trade with the US accounts for more than 10% of Lesotho’s total economy. American buyers facing higher costs due to the tariff may look elsewhere for textiles, potentially dealing a major blow to Lesotho’s manufacturing sector, which employs thousands of workers.
South Africa, one of the largest African economies, has also been singled out as a “worst offender” on Trump’s list, alongside China, Japan, and the European Union. According to US data, South Africa charges 60% on US imports, a figure that includes non-tariff barriers. In response, Trump announced a “discounted” 30% tariff on South African goods entering the US. “They have got some bad things going on in South Africa,” Trump said. “We are paying them billions of dollars, and we cut the funding because a lot of bad things are happening there.”
South Africa’s government swiftly condemned the new tariffs, calling them “punitive” and warning that they could act as barriers to trade and shared economic growth. The White House, meanwhile, released a list of roughly 100 countries that will face new tariff rates under what Trump called “liberation day” for American businesses.
The tariffs are part of Trump’s broader trade policy, which includes steep duties on other foreign goods. Chinese imports to the US will now face a combined 54% tariff, while a 25% tariff has been imposed on all foreign-made automobiles. Analysts warn that this could lead to more vehicles being rerouted to African markets, where countries like South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya rely heavily on imports from Japan, Germany, and China.
The new tariffs will take effect in stages, with the 10% baseline tariff beginning on April 5, followed by higher duties for targeted countries on April 9. The decision comes as African nations are already struggling with the impact of Trump’s foreign aid cuts, which halted US funding for health and humanitarian programs. The cuts, announced on Trump’s first day in office, have further strained US-Africa relations.
US-South Africa relations, in particular, have deteriorated sharply since Trump returned to power. Both Trump and his ally, South Africa-born billionaire Elon Musk, have repeatedly criticized the South African government, particularly over its land reform policies, which they claim discriminate against white farmers.
Economists warn that Trump’s new tariffs mark a major shift away from the more open trade policies that have historically defined US-Africa relations. For African nations that have long relied on AGOA and trade partnerships with the US, these new tariffs could disrupt industries, threaten jobs, and reshape economic alliances in the coming years.
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