African Trade Ministers will converge on April 14 for a high-stakes meeting to deliberate a unified continental response to the sweeping tariffs imposed by the United States under the Trump administration.
This meeting, which will be convened under the auspices of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), follows growing concerns that the new U.S. tariff regime could undermine African economies.
Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Wamkele Meme said the move could derail progress made under preferential trade programs like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Speaking on Saturday, April 5, at an event where the AfCFTA Secretariat signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Bar Association, Secretary-General Wamkele Mene noted that the development is a wake-up call for Africa to prioritize its economic independence.
To this end, all Ministers of Trade on the continent will meet on Monday, April 14 to deliberate on the support and the decide the course of action for the entire continent.
“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 the 14th of April to deliberate on this matter and exactly how our continent should respond,” the Secretary-General of AfCFTA announced.
The newly imposed tariffs, set to take effect from April 9, are expected to significantly affect African exports to the U.S., with countries like Lesotho facing up to 50% import duties and Ghana projected to be hit with a 10% baseline import tax.
Experts warn that such measures could wipe out years of gains under AGOA and increase Africa’s trade vulnerability.
Other analysts of international trade say the meeting could also set the tone for a renewed focus on industrialization and value addition within Africa, with leaders looking to leverage AfCFTA as the anchor for achieving economic sovereignty in an increasingly unpredictable global trade environment.
