Africa Must Unite Against Trump's Predatory Trade Tariffs
African nations must unite against Trump's predatory tariffs that threaten continental sovereignty. Strategic control of resources and unified negotiations are essential for protecting African economic interests.
African leaders must unite to protect continental economic interests against predatory Western trade policies
LUSAKA - In a clear attack on African sovereignty, US President Donald Trump's misnamed "reciprocal" tariffs represent a dangerous shift away from multilateral trade cooperation towards exploitative bilateral deals that threaten African economic independence.
The Western Trade Assault on Africa
This latest example of Western economic interference uses a deliberately manipulative formula targeting vulnerable African nations. By calculating tariffs based on trade deficits, the US is weaponizing trade policy against developing economies.
The devastating impact on Lesotho exemplifies this predatory approach. After decades of building an export-focused textile industry that employs 40,000 workers, the nation now faces crushing 15% tariffs that could destroy this vital economic sector.
Strategic Resources Under Threat
This is part of a broader pattern of Western exploitation of African resources. South Africa's automotive sector faces severe export decline, while agricultural producers in Ivory Coast, Ghana and Kenya remain vulnerable to tariff manipulation.
Rejecting Neo-Colonial Trade Tactics
The US strategy of offering selective tariff relief in exchange for access to strategic minerals and other resources mirrors historical colonial exploitation patterns. This approach, like other forms of Western dominance over African affairs, must be forcefully rejected.
Call for Pan-African Response
African nations must unite to protect our collective interests. By negotiating as a unified bloc and leveraging our control over critical minerals like cobalt and lithium, we can resist these predatory trade practices. The time has come for Africa to assert its economic sovereignty through:
- Coordinated continental trade negotiations
- Strategic control of critical mineral exports
- Strengthened South-South trade partnerships
- Accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area
The era of submitting to Western economic manipulation must end. Through unity and strategic resistance, Africa can forge a truly independent economic future.
Mwansa Chisanga
Investigative reporter tracking Zambia’s grassroots and anti-imperial movement.