A new wave of US tariffs on African exports took effect on August 7, marking a sharp shift from the longstanding African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that had granted duty-free access for many African goods. President Donald Trump’s tiered system of import taxes, aimed at correcting trade deficits, is now reshaping economic ties with the continent.
The harshest blow has fallen on South Africa, Algeria, and Libya all facing a 30% tariff on most exports to the US. South Africa, a major US trading partner, warns that up to 30,000 jobs could be at risk. Algeria and Libya, whose exports are dominated by oil, will also feel significant strain from the increased costs.
Tunisia faces a 25% tariff, a severe setback for its craft and textile industries, which rely heavily on the American market.
A second tier of tariffs set at 15% targets Angola, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Many of these nations narrowly avoided higher proposed rates. Lesotho’s textile industry, for example, was initially facing a 50% tariff, while Madagascar and Botswana were looking at 47% and 37% respectively. Although reduced, the 15% rate still poses a significant barrier to trade. Nigeria’s rate rose slightly from 14% to 15%, affecting non-oil exports such as cocoa, while some oil shipments remain exempt.
The lowest tariff tier 10% applies to African nations with smaller trade surpluses or deficits with the US. These include Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, and Liberia.
Economists warn that these tariffs, while varying in severity, signal a retreat from the trade-friendly policies that underpinned AGOA. Many African governments now face the challenge of diversifying their export markets and strengthening regional trade under frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
While some countries may adapt by shifting toward alternative markets in Europe, Asia, or within Africa itself, the loss of preferential US access is expected to disrupt supply chains, strain industries, and challenge growth across the continent.
