Trumps Tariffs Set To Hit African Fashion Hard – Major Blow To Ghana & Other AGOA Countries!

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African fashion exports are facing a major shake-up as Uncle Sam slaps new tariffs on imports, with some African countries seeing huge cost hikes of up to 50 per cent!

From April 5, 2025, the US is rolling out a universal 10 per cent tax on all imports, followed by extra country-specific charges kicking in from April 9. This is bad news for countries that have enjoyed the duty-free perks of AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) – a deal that gave them access to US buyers without tariffs.

But now, those days are over! Countries like Kenya, Madagascar, Lesotho, and Tunisia will struggle to stay competitive as their goods become way more expensive for American buyers.

Fashion Exports on the Brink!

Take Ghana, for example—its $40.2 million in garment exports to the US last year just got 10 per cent pricier. While that’s not as bad as Madagascar’s shocking 47 per cent hike or Lesotho’s whopping 50 per cent, it’s still a major setback.

Other affected countries include Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Mauritius – all of whom were thriving under AGOA but are now in trouble.

What Does This Mean?

🔴 US Buyers Could Look Elsewhere: With prices shooting up, American retailers might ditch African suppliers and shop around for cheaper options.

🔴 Jobs At Risk: Countries like Lesotho and Madagascar rely heavily on clothing exports—so these new taxes could mean job cuts and economic struggles.

🔴 Africa Fights Back? Affected nations might try to negotiate with the US, hoping to lower these tariffs or find new ways to stay in the game.

This is a serious blow to African exporters who were thriving under AGOA. If no solution is found, this could reshape the global fashion supply chain—and not in Africa’s favour!

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