Trump Tariffs Have Africa Scrambling to Protect Vital Exports
US President Donald Trump, from left, Jamieson Greer, US trade representative, and Stephen Miller, deputy White House chief of staff for policy, during a meeting with African leaders in White House in July.
Photographer: Will Oliver/EPAThis article is for subscribers only.
African nations are rushing to soften the blow of Donald Trump’s tariffs after none were granted a trade pact before his Aug. 1 deadline, threatening everything from Kenyan tea to Libyan oil in a region home to many of the poorest people on earth.
Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa which now faces the continent’s joint-highest levy of 30% on exports to the US, is scaling up foreign trade missions and crafting measures to help hard-hit sectors like automobiles and citrus farmers.