close
Saturday, April 26, 2025

U.S. tariffs will have minimal impact on Africa: Okonjo-Iweala

She noted that Africa’s limited trade with the USA was also not ideal, as it hindered economic growth.

• April 25, 2025
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Credit: Twitter)

The director-general (D-G) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated that Africa would be minimally impacted by the tariffs imposed by the United States of America (USA).

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala made the remark during an interview with Nigerian journalists at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank in Washington D.C. on Friday.

She explained that only 6.5 per cent of Africa’s exports go to the USA, while 4.4 per cent of its imports come from the U.S., meaning that the impact on the continent would be minimal.

“The trade of the continent is very limited with the USA. We have done the analysis, and the impact on the continent as a whole is not significant,” she said.

However, she noted that Africa’s limited trade with the USA was also not ideal, as it hindered economic growth.

The D-G emphasised that Africa needed to focus on utilising its own resources to reach its full potential, as aid was declining, and the continent required more investment.

She pointed out that Africa must strengthen internal trade, citing Lesotho as an example.

In spite of Lesotho exporting 200 million dollars’ worth of textiles to the USA, the country faced challenges due to the shrinking U.S. market.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala noted that Africa spent 7 billion dollars annually on importing textiles, suggesting that Lesotho should instead focus on selling textiles within African markets.

She also urged the USA to consider the effects of tariffs on least-developed countries, calling for a reassessment of the reciprocal tariffs in poorer nations.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala concluded that Africa needed more investments and should work towards boosting intra-Africa trade, which remained underdeveloped.

“We cannot trade more externally, where our trade is only 3 per cent of world trade, or internally, where intra-Africa trade is 16 to 20 per cent at most,” she said.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Abubakar Kyari

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

FCT

Abuja

FCTA begins assessment of abattoirs, veterinary clinics, others

Mr Ango stressed the need for teamwork and efficiency to achieve the secretariat’s mandate.

World

Trump govt accused of deporting two-year-old U.S. citizen

Judge Terry A. Doughty described the move by Mr Trump’s administration as illegal and unconstitutional.

FRSC corps marshal, Shehu Mohammed (Credit: NAN)

Uncategorized

FRSC redeploys 26 senior officers

Mr Mohammed said that the redeployment became necessary towards creating a safer motoring environment.

Whatsapp logo used to tell the story.

Hot news Home top

WhatsApp appeals tribunal’s $220 million fine in favour of FCCPC  

WhatsApp said, “We are urgently applying to stay the order and appeal today’s decision to avoid any impact to users.’’

Nasarawa State logo

Heading 2

Suspect nabbed, firearm recovered in Nasarawa hideout raid

The police spokesperson said Mr Jauro-Mohammed ordered investigations into the case.