Trump Hits Kenyan Goods To The US With A 10% Reciprocal Tarriff
President Donald Trump has slapped Kenya with a 10 percent reciprocal tariff on Kenyan exports to America, saying the sweeping tariffs are aimed at levelling the playing field in international trade and countering what he called “cheating” in global trade.
The US President, who named Kenya among African countries with an existing 10 percent tariff on American imports, said the move will help rebuild the American economy and “prevent cheating” by mirroring the tariffs imposed on U.S. goods abroad.
“Large and persistent annual US goods trade deficits have led to the hollowing out of our manufacturing base; inhibited our ability to scale advanced domestic manufacturing capacity; undermined critical supply chains; and rendered our defense-industrial base dependent on foreign adversaries. Large and persistent annual US goods trade deficits are caused in substantial part by a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships,” the order reads in part.
Among the African countries hardest hit by Trump’s ‘reciprocal’ tariffs are the Southern African states of Lesotho, whose goods will be hit with a tariff of 50%; Madagascar (47%); Mauritius (40%); Botswana (37%); Angola (32%) South Africa (30%); Namibia (21%); Zimbabwe (18%); Zambia (17%) and Malawi (17%).
North Africa is also among the regions hit: Libya will be charged 31%; Algeria 30%; and Tunisia 28%. In West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire is the hardest hit at 21%, while Nigeria is subjected to a 14% tariff.
Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Senegal, and Liberia were among the countries whose exports to the US will be subject to the 10% baseline tariff.
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