The small country – surrounded by South Africa – is located south of the African continent and has a population of 2.1 million people. Despite its apparent inconsequence in the world market, The United States applied a 50%tariff.
Why Lesoto was the country most affected by Donald Trump’s tariffs
In detail, Trump imposed a 50% tariff to imports from Lesotowhich made it the country most affected by the measures of the Republican. As detailed by President United States, the reasons behind this decision are that the African country applies A 99% tariff to American products.
However, the Government of Lesoto claimed to ignore how the US administration calculated that figure. On the other hand, government officials They did not reveal on Thursday what are the tariffs of Lesoto to the American products.
It should be noted that in Lesoto there are factories of the renowned American clothing brands Levi’s and Wrangler. Textile manufacturing is one of the key industries of Lesoto and It exports about 75% of its production to the United States.
What are exports and the economy of Lesoto
The African country does not pay tariffs on exports To Botsuana, Namibia, South Africa and Suaziland, since it belongs to regional economic blocks such as the Customs Union of Austral Africa. Among its main industries are textiles, diamonds, water, energy, wool and mohair.
Lesoto and the United States maintain a bilateral trade that, in 2024, represented a total of U $ 240.1 million.
Before the confirmation of the Trump measurehe Minister of Commerce of the country, Mokethi Shelile, said that his country will look for new markets and use the African continental trade area to increase its flow of exports to other countries in the region. In addition, they will send a delegation to the United States to negotiate a viable agreement.
Source: Ambito
