Adnan Adams Mohammed
African trade ministers are expected to meet through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to discuss the impact of the of the 10 percent tariff imposed on goods and services from Africa to the United States.
The meeting, to be held on Monday, April 14, will explore how the African continent can best position itself in the face of growing global protectionism while leveraging on the AfCFTA as it brings together key policymakers, economists, trade experts, and representatives from regional economic communities.
Addressing the media from Washington, D.C., Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Wamkele Mene, emphasised that the decision by U.S President, Donald Trump, underscores the urgent need for African nations to fast-track the implementation of policies that promote intra-African trade and reduce overreliance on global powers.
“The U.S. tariff is a wake-up call for Africa”, Wamkele Mene said. “And the wake-up call is that we must accelerate our own economic self-sufficiency. The ministers of trade will meet on April 14 to deliberate on this matter and exactly how our continent should respond.”
President Trump has paused the implementation of his tariff hikes for imports from most countries for 90 days, but it is unclear whether this is part of a rethink by the US government, or simply a ploy to give affected countries an opportunity to negotiate reciprocal tariff cuts with the world’s biggest market.
Meanwhile, the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana has called on the AfCFTA Secretariat to remain committed to eliminating trade barriers that hinder intra-African trade among member countries.
It highlighted infrastructural and logistical challenges as inadequate, discouraging exporters from exploring other African countries as viable markets.
“Some of these barriers are serious hindrances to traders and drivers”, President of the Association, Dr. Felix Mawuli Kamassah, said while reacting to the U.S tariffs adjustment. “If you speak to people engaged in regional trade, especially within ECOWAS and the broader West African region, they’ll tell you about the numerous challenges they face.”
He cited the example of onion traders transporting goods from Niger, who often encounter multiple obstacles during transit, adding: “It shouldn’t be like that. We want to promote trade among ourselves. Why can’t we make better decisions and identify key areas to improve?”
“Our sector, like yam exporters, is going to be hit hard. Some buyers require freight to be prepaid before receiving goods, so this extra 10% cost will reduce our export volumes,” he explained. “I’m happy the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have already met with the U.S. Ambassador. We’re meeting with the Ministry of Trade to discuss the challenges and explore ways to push for further reductions or even zero rate.”
Dr. Kamassah emphasized that exporters are not asking for financial handouts from governments or regional bodies, but rather the creation of a conducive environment to support intra-African trade.
Dr Kamassah called on the AfCFTA Secretariat to take a more proactive role in resolving these long-standing issues.
Additionally, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), and the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) have also raised concerns about the adverse impact the tariff could have on their respective industries, and are therefore, calling on the U.S. government to reduce or eliminate the newly imposed 10% tariff on Ghanaian exports.
Dr. Joseph Obeng, President of GUTA, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for a broader review of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants duty-free access to several U.S. markets for African countries.
“The price hikes will affect trade flow. That’s why we want the government to push for the tariff to be removed altogether,” Dr. Obeng stated. “We’re also appealing for an extension of AGOA so we can build capacity and better assess the U.S. market. It’s a state policy embedded in their constitution, so we can use that as leverage.”
However AGOA in its current form expires in September and few expect the Trump administration to renew it.
John Awuni, Executive Chairman of FABAG, also backed the calls, warning that the tariff acts as a trade barrier that could shift Ghanaian exporters to more favorable markets.
“Tariffs are essentially trade barriers,” Awuni said. “When tariffs rise, demand drops. Exporters will naturally start seeking more friendly markets.”
The new tariff threatens to increase the cost of African exports to the U.S., potentially diminishing their competitiveness in the American market.
Many African economies rely on exports such as textiles, agricultural produce, raw materials, and manufactured goods, much of which are currently traded under preferential access agreements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
