AfCFTA Schedules Emergency Meeting to Address Impact of Trump’s New Tariff Measures

AfCFTA Schedules Emergency Meeting to Address Impact of Trump’s New Tariff Measures

In response to sweeping new tariffs announced under the “America First” policy revival, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has called for a high-level crisis meeting on April 14. The urgent gathering will bring together trade ministers, policy experts, and economic stakeholders across Africa to strategize on how to safeguard the continent’s trade interests and supply chains. With U.S. tariffs threatening to disrupt key African exports and investment flows, AfCFTA’s leadership sees a coordinated continental response as critical. Observers note that this meeting could mark a turning point in how Africa negotiates global trade power dynamics, reinforcing calls for greater self-reliance and intra-African commerce.

African Trade Ministers sighted by Accra Street Journal will meet on April 14 to craft a unified response to new U.S. tariffs. The AfCFTA-led talks aim to strengthen economic self-sufficiency and protect African exports amid shifting global trade dynamics.

African Trade Ministers will converge on April 14 for a high-stakes meeting to deliberate a unified continental response to the sweeping tariffs imposed by the United States under the Trump administration.

This meeting, which will be convened under the auspices of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), follows growing concerns that the new U.S. tariff regime could undermine African economies.

Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Wamkele Meme said the move could derail progress made under preferential trade programs like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Speaking on Saturday, April 5, at an event where the AfCFTA Secretariat signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Bar Association, Secretary-General Wamkele Mene noted that the development is a wake-up call for Africa to prioritize its economic independence.

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African Trade Ministers to Meet on April 14 to Decide a Response to Trump's Sweeping Tariffs

To this end, all Ministers of Trade on the continent will meet on Monday, April 14 to deliberate on the support and the decide the course of action for the entire continent.

“The United States has given us a wake-up call, and the wake-up call is that we must accelerate our own economic self-sufficiency. The Ministers of Trade will meet on the 14th of April to deliberate on this matter and exactly how our continent should respond,” the Secretary-General of AfCFTA announced.

The newly imposed tariffs reported by Accra Street Journal on 7th April, 2025, set to take effect from April 9, are expected to significantly affect African exports to the U.S., with countries like Lesotho facing up to 50% import duties and Ghana projected to be hit with a 10% baseline import tax.

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Experts like The Announcer Ghana warn that such measures could wipe out years of gains under AGOA and increase Africa’s trade vulnerability.

Other analysts from Accra Weekly News,  say the meeting could also set the tone for a renewed focus on industrialization and value addition within Africa, with leaders looking to leverage AfCFTA as the anchor for achieving economic sovereignty in an increasingly unpredictable global trade environment.

Last Updated on April 8, 2025 by samboad