As the world grapples with shifting trade dynamics and rising protectionism, Africa is being urged to seize the moment.
In a well articulated message aimed at turning adversity into advantage, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Mr. Wamkele Mene, has called on African leaders to treat the sweeping U.S. tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump not as a blow, but as a wake-up call and more importantly, as a springboard toward true economic independence.
Speaking at the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the AfCFTA Secretariat and the U.S.-based National Bar Association, Mr. Mene said the continent must stop viewing external trade restrictions as a crisis and instead begin building the economic muscle to produce, trade, and thrive from within.
“I believe we are well positioned as a continent to turn this crisis into an opportunity,” he stated. “There is absolutely no reason why we should be crying about a 10% tariff on all of us, when our export profile under AGOA to the United States is mainly limited to minerals, petroleum, vehicles, and cashew nuts.”
He stressed that Africa’s economic potential far exceeds its current export offerings and must now pivot towards industrialization and intra-African trade under the AfCFTA framework. “Our continent is more than just about cashew nuts or unprocessed commodities. This is the time to consolidate and build a market that enables Africa to stand on her own economic feet producing for herself without disengaging from global trade.”
The MoU with the National Bar Association is the third of its kind signed by the AfCFTA Secretariat with a U.S. institution and will support joint initiatives in trade facilitation, legal capacity building, and investment opportunity identification. Mr. Mene noted the partnership is critical for ensuring African interests are represented in U.S. policymaking and trade negotiations, especially as uncertainty looms over the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is set to expire in September 2025.
Highlighting Africa’s strength as a market of 1.4 billion people with a combined consumer and business spending potential of $6.1 trillion, he said the continent remains one of the most dynamic regions for investment, despite its challenges.
He cautioned against accepting trade terms driven by an “America First” philosophy, stating, “We will not support a partnership where America is first and everyone else is last. Africa will assert her interests not last interests, but best interests in any future engagement on AGOA or U.S.-Africa trade frameworks.”
Mr. Mene concluded with a call to action: “Let us not wait for the outcome of AGOA’s renewal to determine our fate. We must chart our path forward based on mutual respect, African priorities, and value-driven partnerships.”
The MoU is expected to further enhance AfCFTA’s efforts to create a robust and unified African market, accelerating trade across the continent and with partners who share its vision for fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
