Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Hegseth in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart: Washington will continue to defend its interests vigorously
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: The United States is concerned about China's activities in the South China Sea
Occupied Palestine: Israeli occupation forces demolishe residential homes east of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone attacked the main road in the town of Harouf, South Lebanon.
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border

Trump's tariff moves threaten African economies, AfDB warns

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Apr 2025 22:19
3 Min Read

In South Africa, a 30% duty on citrus exports has alarmed agricultural groups.

Listen
  • x
  • AP
    A Naval officer stands guard as a shipping container is seen at the Lekki deep seaport prior to its commission by Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari in Lagos, Nigeria, Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 (AP)

The head of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has issued a stark warning about the devastating ripple effects of the United States' new tariff regime, saying the measures threaten to destabilize African economies already grappling with mounting debt, sluggish growth, and shrinking foreign aid.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina criticized the trade actions spearheaded by President Donald Trump, particularly the sweeping levies on Chinese imports. While a blanket 10% tariff now applies globally, African nations face the prospect of even steeper duties—part of a broader protectionist shift that has upended long-standing global trade norms.

According to Adesina, 47 African countries are directly at risk. "Inflation will increase as costs of imported goods rise and currencies devalue against the US dollar," he said during a speech at Nigeria's National Open University. He further warned that the burden of external debt will intensify under these conditions: "The cost of servicing debt as a share of government revenue will rise, as expected revenues decline."

The fallout is already tangible in several African countries. In Lesotho, for instance, a 50% tariff on garment exports has jeopardized the future of the textile industry, which employs tens of thousands and constitutes a major share of the national economy. Workers have expressed fears over mass layoffs and factory closures, with many saying they have no alternative means of livelihood.

Related News

Trump claims credit for India-Pakistan ceasefire via tariff threats

Toyota rejects $10 bln US investment claim in Japan

In South Africa, a 30% duty on citrus exports has alarmed agricultural groups. Farmers warn the sector, central to employment in rural areas, could suffer long-term damage if access to the US market is curtailed. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast has threatened to raise cocoa prices in retaliation for a 21% tariff on its exports, signaling broader tensions between African economies and Washington.

Adesina also noted that beyond trade disruption, the broader global instability will exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. "Europe and Asia will buy fewer goods from Africa," he warned, as countries turn inward or prioritize more stable trade partners in response to market volatility.

Read more: Namibia terminates visa-free entries for 30+ countries, including US

The tariffs come at a particularly sensitive time for Africa, as the continent faces a decline in development assistance. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provided duty-free access to the US market for years, is now in jeopardy ahead of its scheduled expiration in 2025, leaving many African nations in a precarious position.

The AfDB president noted the potential for long-term damage, not just in economic terms but also with regard to migration and social stability. As aid shrinks and job prospects dwindle, migration pressures are expected to intensify, particularly among youth seeking opportunities abroad.

In response, some African leaders are calling for accelerated efforts to diversify trade through regional mechanisms like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), hoping to reduce reliance on US and European markets.

  • US tariffs
  • global trade
  • African Development Bank

Most Read

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Hamas calls on int’l community to act against Israeli settlement plan

In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP)
Economy

Ex-US diplomat says Trump-Xi deal 'tactical retreat', not lasting deal

An unarmed Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, during a test in 2002. (US Air Force)
Politics

JD Vance defends Trump's nuclear test plan as 'crucial for security'

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the "million man" protest against military conscription, in occupied al-Quds, October 30, 2025 (AFP)
Politics

Haredi mass rally in al-Quds exposes Zionist regime's growing crisis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS