The global conversation around President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs — particularly his threats to impose universal reciprocal tariffs — has largely revolved around how it might impact the U.S. or China. Major newspapers focus on inflation at home, retaliatory trade measures or disruptions in supply chains. But there appears to be a glaring absence in this conversation: Africa.
With reciprocal tariffs slapping countries across Africa with some of the highest duty rates in the world, the consequences for small economies reliant on U.S. trade could be swift and severe. Though a 90-day suspension of the tariffs offers a brief reprieve, uncertainty still looms over thousands of workers, entire sectors and decades of U.S.-Africa economic engagement.
Trump’s proposed tariffs aren’t just about punishing geopolitical rivals or trying to prove himself as an economist. They represent a fundamental shift in how the U.S. engages with the global economy. And for many African countries already navigating fragile economic recovery post-COVID, climate shocks and debt burdens, these tariffs could be devastating for African economies that rely on preferential trade agreements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which gives duty-free access to U.S. markets for thousands of products. Exports ranging from Ethiopia to Ghana and to Kenya are often lifelines for local economies, employing tens of thousands and generating vital profits for the countries.
Lesotho is a stark example of these consequences. Lesotho’s economy was dealt a staggering blow when Trump imposed a 50% tariff on its exports, second only to China. Clothing and textiles, which represent the backbone of Lesotho’s private sector and employ nearly 30,000 workers, are overwhelmingly geared toward U.S. markets. Brands like Levi’s, Nike and Reebok source apparel from factories scattered throughout the country. But reporters fear that more than 12,000 jobs could be wiped out unless meaningful tariff reductions are achieved. Lesotho, for example, exported $237 million worth of goods to the U.S. in 2024 while importing only $2.8 million. Targeting such a nation, where U.S. trade supports jobs and economic stability, is morally troubling.
But Lesotho isn’t the only country being affected. It’s the entire continent we should be worried about. Madagascar, which produces 80% of the world’s vanilla, is facing a 47% tariff, and the Ivory Coast — the world’s largest cocoa producer — was hit with a 21% tariff. Furthermore, the tariffs on South African agricultural exports pose significant harm to the country’s economy. Previously, key exports like citrus, wine, grapes and nuts entered the U.S. duty-free, but now face tariffs of 10% to 31%. As exports make up about half the value of South Africa’s agricultural production, this loss of preferential access threatens the profitability of these sectors and could lead to job losses. In response, the government is urgently seeking exemptions and favorable quota agreements to maintain access to the U.S. market.
And yet, many of these stories are missing from our everyday headlines. I believe part of the problem is visibility. Africa isn’t part of the G7, doesn’t dominate global export markets and isn’t seen as a major player in U.S. politics. However, this invisibility in media discourse only reinforces structural inequalities. If African economies are perpetually left out of trade conversations, how can they compete on equal footing?
Moreover, the media’s narrow focus ignores the global nature of supply chains. Many African countries are not just exporters — they’re part of critical production networks. For example, African minerals power the batteries in American electric vehicles, and North African ports help facilitate trade between Asia and Europe. Tariffs that disrupt these systems could have ripple effects that go far beyond the African or U.S. borders.
Media outlets need to widen their lens. It’s not enough to ask whether tariffs will raise prices for American families or spark trade wars with China. We must ask: what happens to the Ethiopian worker whose factory shuts down? Or the Ghanaian cocoa farmer whose exports can no longer compete in the global market? Ignoring these stories doesn’t make them go away — it just makes us complicit in their erasure.
If we are serious about equitable globalization, about building a world where trade lifts everyone rather than entrenching inequality, then we need to start paying attention to the places our headlines don’t reach. While it is easy to get caught up in the plethora of media covering Trump’s policies, we must not forget about his ability to drastically affect Africa, a continent home to over 1.5 billion people.