After the US Supreme Court struck down his sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs, President Trump responded by imposing a new global base rate of 10% under alternative legal authority—and African economies are still trying to make sense of it all. The move brings relief to countries like Lesotho and Madagascar, which previously faced tariffs of 50% and 48%, respectively, but now face lower—though still uncertain—tariffs. However, it raises fresh questions about the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants duty-free access to 32 countries across the continent. Analysts warn the stop-start approach clouds investment decisions but could ultimately push African economies to deepen regional trade through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area.
African Business
