Cómo Está Respondiendo África a las Políticas Arancelarias de EE.UU.

The document assesses the effects of US Executive Order 14257, which introduced a 10% universal tariff and higher country-specific tariffs (11% to 50%) on imports from 190 countries. While mineral-exporting nations like Angola and South Africa may find relief through exemptions for oil and critical minerals, countries like Lesotho and Madagascar face severe economic risks, particularly in the textile sector. The analysis highlights a strategic divide: some nations seek bilateral deals, others aim for self-sufficiency, and a group of African WTO members are coordinating through the 'Friends of the System'. The authors argue that African nations should negotiate collectively under the African Union to protect regional integration and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as the AGOA program faces expiration on September 30, 2025.

• Executive Order 14257, issued on April 2, 2025, established a two-stage tariff system: a 10% universal ad valorem tariff for 190 countries starting April 5, 2025, followed by higher country-specific tariffs ranging from 11% to 50% for 57 countries starting April 9, 2025.
• Among the 57 countries facing higher tariffs, 20 are African. Lesotho faces the highest increase at 50%, followed by Madagascar (47%), Mauritius (40%), Botswana (37%), Angola (32%), Libya (31%), and Algeria and South Africa (both 30%).
• Mineral-exporting countries such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia may receive significant relief because the order exempts over 1,000 products, including oil, gold, platinum, and copper.
• The tariffs pose a critical threat to Lesotho's textile and garment industry, which employs approximately 40,000 local workers, mostly women, and was built on AGOA preferences. South African motor vehicle exports are also vulnerable due to a specific 25% tariff on passenger vehicles.
• Countries like Egypt and Kenya may gain a competitive advantage in the US textile market because they are only subject to the 10% universal tariff, whereas competitors in Asia—such as Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam—face higher tariffs.
• African government responses vary: Zimbabwe offered to unilaterally remove tariffs on US imports, Uganda is focusing on national resilience, and Lesotho, Madagascar, and South Africa are pursuing bilateral agreements.
• The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is set to expire on September 30, 2025. Its potential dissolution could severely limit US market access for textile exporters like Lesotho and Madagascar, as AGOA beneficiaries are not exempt from the new US tariffs.
• The authors recommend that African nations negotiate as a region under the African Union to avoid undermining the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and to leverage regional value chains.

APA

Kugler, K., & Washington, T. (2025). Cómo Está Respondiendo África a las Políticas Arancelarias de EE.UU. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/africa-response-us-tariff-policies

Chicago

Kugler, Kholofelo, and Tani Washington. Cómo Está Respondiendo África a las Políticas Arancelarias de EE.UU. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/africa-response-us-tariff-policies.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kugler |first1=Kholofelo |last2=Washington |first2=Tani |title=Cómo Está Respondiendo África a las Políticas Arancelarias de EE.UU. |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/africa-response-us-tariff-policies |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kugler2025cmo, author = {Kugler, Kholofelo and Washington, Tani}, title = {{Cómo Está Respondiendo África a las Políticas Arancelarias de EE.UU.}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/africa-response-us-tariff-policies}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }