SADC to review impact of US tariffs on regional industries

Rutendo Nyeve, Online Reporter

THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) has rebuked the United States of America’s decision to impose sweeping new import tariffs, calling the measures a direct threat to trade ties and regional economic stability.

The tariffs, announced by the White House on 2 April include a 10 percent baseline levy on all imports effective 5 April, followed by reciprocal tariffs targeting specific SADC member states starting on 9 April.

Under the new structure, countries such as Lesotho face a massive 50 percent tariff on exports to the US, while Madagascar confronts a 47 percent rate.

Products like textiles and clothing which are critical exports for SADC nations were notably excluded from the US list of exemptions.

Other affected members include Mauritius at 40 percent, Botswana at 38 percent, and South Africa at 31 percent with rates varying across the 16-nation bloc.

Seychelles and Zimbabwe remain unaffected as they are already excluded from duty-free benefits under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

According to a statement by the SADC secretariat on Tuesday, the tariffs deal a severe blow to AGOA which grants most SADC nations duty-free access to the U.S. market.

With AGOA set to expire in September 2025, the new levies effectively nullify its benefits years ahead of schedule. “

“These measures undermine years of progress under AGOA. The tariffs compound existing geopolitical strains on regional industries,” reads the statement.

In response, the SADC secretariat said it has launched an urgent assessment of the tariffs’ sectoral impacts, with findings slated for review at an extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting in June 2025.

Further deliberations by trade and regional integration committees will inform a collective response ahead of the August 2025 Council summit.

The secretariat reiterated its commitment to multilateralism.

“SADC remains steadfast in pursuing fair competition and equitable trade,” reads the statement.

The secretariat underscored the bloc’s resolve to shield its economies from unilateral measures.

@nyeve14