U.S. tariffs hit Africa hard: South Africa, Algeria, and Libya face steepest rates
The U.S. is imposing a new wave of tariffs on African exports, with South Africa, Algeria, and Libya facing the continent’s highest rate of 30 percent.
These tariffs are set to take effect on August 7 and follow a missed deadline of August 1 for trade negotiations between the U.S. and African nations. However, no trade deals were finalized with African countries before this deadline.
South Africa, the region’s most industrialized economy, submitted new proposals in a last-minute effort to reach an agreement with the Trump administration, but ultimately no deal was reached. The tariffs are expected to have potentially severe economic consequences for the country.
Other African nations, including Nigeria and Angola, with which the U.S. runs a trade deficit, will face a 15 percent tariff on their goods.
Lesotho, which had faced the threat of a 50 percent tariff earlier this year, received a reprieve on Thursday when President Donald Trump issued an executive order adjusting its rate to 15 percent.
Tunisia will be subject to a 25 percent tariff, while most other African nations, including Angola, Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, will face a flat 15 percent rate.
