Southern Africa bloc raises concern over US tariffs

KIGALI, Rwanda

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Tuesday expressed concern over the new tariffs imposed by the US on imported products, including those from the bloc member states.

A new baseline tariff of 10% slapped on all imports announced on April 2 came into force on April 5, while “reciprocal” tariffs will enter into force on Wednesday.

The new tariffs will affect all SADC countries to varying degrees, with products from Lesotho will be hit by a 50% “reciprocal” tariff, while 47% will be applied to imports from Madagascar.

“While the US has announced a list of exempted products, this does not include products such as textiles and clothing, which are amongst those exported to the US by SADC countries,” the bloc said in a statement.

Almost all SADC countries currently enjoy duty-free access to the US market under the US’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

However, the reciprocal tariffs will end these benefits stemming from AGOA, whose current term was due to expire by the end of September this year.

SADC is carrying out a detailed assessment of the impact of the global geopolitical developments on the different sectors of the region, for consideration by an extraordinary meeting of the bloc’s council of ministers scheduled for June, according to the statement.

“SADC reiterates its commitment to further the objectives of the SADC Treaty through continued adherence to multilateral trade rules and fair competition administered by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and remains open to engagement with stakeholders on these matters,” it said.

African countries have been responding differently since President Donald Trump announced “reciprocal tariffs.”

Last week, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a post on X, announced a suspension of all tariffs levied on goods originating from the US to “facilitate the expansion of American imports within the Zimbabwean market, while simultaneously promoting the growth of Zimbabwean exports” destined for the US.

Zimbabwe, one of the SADC member countries under US sanctions for human rights violations, was slapped with an 18% tariff.