African trade ministers from across the continent are scheduled to meet on April 14 to assess the implications of President Donald Trump’s imposition of a sweeping new tariff policy that will see a 10 percent tax levied on all goods imported into the United States from more than 100 countries.
The meeting will bring together key policymakers, economists, trade experts, and representatives from regional economic communities to explore how the African continent can best position itself in the face of growing global protectionism.
Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, addressed the media from Washington, D.C., calling the U.S. tariff a wake-up call for Africa.
Wamkele Mene emphasised that the decision by President Trump underscores the urgent need for African nations to fast-track the implementation of policies that promote intra-African trade and reduce overreliance on global powers.
“President of the United States has given us a wake-up call. And the wake-up call is that we must accelerate our own economic self-sufficiency. The ministers of trade will meet on April 14 to deliberate on this matter and exactly how our continent should respond.”
Mene’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment among African leaders and trade officials that global shifts toward economic nationalism and unilateral trade decisions by major economies demand a proactive, unified African approach.
The new tariff threatens to increase the cost of African exports to the U.S., potentially diminishing their competitiveness in the American market.
Many African economies rely on exports such as textiles, agricultural produce, raw materials, and manufactured goods, much of which are currently traded under preferential access agreements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
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