In a move sending shockwaves across Africa, US President Donald Trump has slapped a devastating 50% import tariff on goods from Lesotho, making the small Southern African nation the hardest hit in a new wave of “reciprocal tariffs” unveiled at the White House.

Speaking from the Rose Garden, Trump announced punitive tariffs targeting more than 100 countries—20 of them in Africa—as part of his administration’s effort to shrink America’s trade deficit. The sweeping policy introduces a minimum 10% tariff on all imports, with rates scaling up depending on each country’s trade surplus with the US.

Lesotho, which sends textiles and diamonds to the US, has been singled out due to what Trump calls “unfair trade imbalances.” According to White House figures, in 2024 the US imported $237.3 million worth of goods from Lesotho, while exporting just $2.8 million.

Lesotho’s Trade Minister Mokhethi Shelile confirmed his government would send a delegation to Washington to argue for an exemption, warning of imminent factory closures and mass job losses.

“This has been a devastating day for us,” said Teboho Kobeli, founder of Afri-Expo Textiles, which supplies major US brands like Levi’s and Wrangler. “We can’t just shelve the US market… we need to do everything we can to bring it back.”

Lesotho has benefited heavily from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), a US law that allowed African countries to export selected goods duty-free. Trump’s tariffs now threaten that framework, casting uncertainty over thousands of jobs in Lesotho’s garment sector, which makes up nearly three-quarters of its exports to the US.

Other African Nations Also Targeted

Lesotho wasn’t alone in facing Trump’s economic wrath:

• Madagascar: 47% tariff

• Mauritius: 40%

• Botswana: 37%

• South Africa: 30%

• Nigeria: 14%

• Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Liberia, Senegal: 10% baseline