WTO Chief Says Africa Will Face Minimal Impact from Trump’s Tariffs

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has stated that the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration will have minimal impact on Africa. According to her, the continent’s trade exposure to the US is relatively small – only 6.5% of Africa’s exports and 4.4% of its imports come from the US – resulting in less fallout from Trump’s trade policy than elsewhere. Despite this, Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the need for Africa to strengthen regional trade through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). She urged African governments to diversify their trade, stressing the importance of intra-African investment to build economic resilience. Additionally, Okonjo-Iweala called on the US to reconsider the effect of its tariffs on the world’s least-developed countries, most of which are in Africa.

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