A garment factory in Lesotho, once known for producing Trump-branded golf shirts, is facing imminent closure due to punitive US tariffs, leaving thousands of workers fearing for their livelihoods.
The southern African nation was slapped with a steep 50% “reciprocal” tariff by the Trump administration in April, the highest rate levied on any country. Although temporarily paused, the tariffs are expected to return on August 1 unless a new trade agreement is reached.
Workers like Aletta Seleso, an embroiderer at Precious Garments for nearly a decade, have already been impacted. Her salary has been halved as the factory scales back operations, leaving her struggling to care for her child, mother, and orphaned nieces. “We don’t know how we survive this one. We are going to die,” she told the BBC.
The textile industry, Lesotho’s largest private employer, once provided up to 50,000 jobs. That number has since dropped to around 36,000, with 12,000 jobs directly affected by the tariffs. Precious Garments alone once employed 4,000 people.
Lesotho previously enjoyed duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which aimed to reduce poverty through trade. The tariffs effectively nullify these benefits, threatening the future of the sector and the economy.
While Trade Minister Mokhethi Shelile claims the country is pivoting toward the South African market, industry leaders remain skeptical. TZICC, another factory, has laid off 1,000 employees due to halted US orders. “Even if the 10% tax remains, without Agoa it’s not viable,” said factory manager Rahila Omar.
The crisis has deepened Lesotho’s already severe unemployment problem, with youth joblessness near 50%. Youth activist Tšolo Thakeli blames government corruption and poor planning. “There’s a serious state of hopelessness,” he said.
Despite government assurances of solutions, many factory workers and job seekers view the promises as empty. As the August 1 deadline looms, Lesotho’s economic future hangs in the balance, with thousands of families uncertain how they will survive.
