African Union says US tariffs threaten decades of trade and cooperation - Africa
The African Union said on Monday that US tariffs imposed on countries across the continent threatened decades of "mutually beneficial trade and cooperation".
AU Commission chairman Mahamoud Ali Youssouf expressed deep concern over the tariffs and urged the US government to reconsider, an AU spokesman said.
Youssouf "calls on the US to strengthen, rather than strain, the longstanding partnership rooted in shared values and mutual aspirations," spokesman Nuur Mohamud Sheekh told AFP.
Some African countries have been hit harder by tariffs -- ranging from 50 percent for the small African kingdom of Lesotho, a major textile exporter, to 30 percent and above for South Africa, Madagascar and Botswana.
About 30 sub-Saharan African countries benefit from duty-free access to the US market through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), an agreement whose future analysts see as under threat now.
African countries have been scrambling to react, with some looking to rapidly mobilise diplomatic delegations to travel to Washington.
South Africa's automotive sector, accounting for 22 percent of exports to the US and also benefiting under AGOA, will be among the hardest hit as separate tariffs on foreign-made cars have also came into effect.
Kenya, which faced a baseline tariff rate of 10 percent, said the new measures presented "both challenges and opportunities", perhaps giving a competitive edge compared to other textile-exporting nations dealing with higher rates.
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt ready to support counter-terrorism efforts in Sahel region: FM Abdelatty to Nigerian counterpart - Foreign Affairs
Egypt is ready to support counter-terrorism efforts in the Sahel region, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told his Nigerian counterpart, Yusuf Tuggar, during a phone call on Saturday. The two ministers discussed developments across Africa and the need to deepen cooperation within the African Union (AU) to promote peace and security, particularly in the increasingly volatile Sahel. According to a statement from Egypt's foreign ministry, Abdelatty affirmed Cairo's commitment to assisting Nigeria through capacity-building programmes, including joint efforts with Al-Azhar to combat extremist ideologies. The ministers also explored ways to enhance bilateral ties. Abdelatty highlighted both countries' shared interest in expanding economic, trade, and investment cooperation, focusing on agriculture. He also noted the growing presence of Egyptian companies across Africa and expressed Cairo's interest in developing new joint investment opportunities that would benefit both nations. The two officials also exchanged views on developments in the Middle East, especially the war on Gaza. Abdelatty briefed Tuggar on Egypt's ongoing efforts to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and facilitate the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid. Additionally, Abdelatty condemned Israel's continued violations of international and humanitarian law, accusing Tel Aviv of pursuing a 'policy of arrogance' against Palestinian civilians in defiance of international calls for an end to the war and urgent access to aid. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Today
8 hours ago
- Egypt Today
Egypt's FM holds separate phone calls with Nigerian, Cypriot counterparts
CAIRO – June 7, 2025: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration Badr Abdelatty held separate phone calls on Saturday with his counterparts from Nigeria and Cyprus, as part of Egypt's ongoing diplomatic efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and coordinate on regional developments. Egypt–Nigeria Relations In his call with Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdelatty praised the long-standing and distinguished relations between Egypt and Nigeria. He expressed his aspiration to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, trade, and investment sectors—with special emphasis on agriculture. The Egyptian Minister highlighted the growing presence and activity of Egyptian companies across Africa and voiced interest in exploring new investment opportunities through joint ventures that bring mutual benefit. The two ministers exchanged views on current developments across the African continent, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and coordination within the African Union to promote peace and security—especially in the Sahel region. Minister Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's readiness to support Nigeria in combating terrorism and extremism, underlining Egypt's willingness to assist through capacity building initiatives and educational cooperation, including support from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in countering extremist ideologies. The discussion also covered developments in the Middle East, particularly the situation in Gaza. Abdelatty outlined Egypt's efforts to secure a ceasefire and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, strongly condemning Israel's continued violations of international and humanitarian law, and its policies against Palestinian civilians. He emphasized the need for urgent international action to end the war and ensure humanitarian access. Strengthening Egypt–Cyprus Ties Separately, Minister Abdelatty received a phone call from Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, as part of the ongoing dialogue aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and exchanging perspectives on regional issues. Abdelatty reaffirmed the historical and friendly ties between Egypt and Cyprus and expressed Egypt's keenness to expand cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and employment. He also emphasized the importance of continuing collaboration on facilitating Egyptian labor in Cyprus. The Egyptian minister expressed appreciation for Cyprus's continued support for Egypt within the European Union, especially concerning the European financial assistance package allocated to Egypt. The two ministers also reviewed regional and international developments of mutual concern, with a special focus on the Gaza crisis. Abdelatty briefed his Cypriot counterpart on Egypt's diplomatic and humanitarian efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire and ensuring aid delivery. Both sides agreed on the importance of continued coordination to de-escalate tensions and support regional stability and security.
CAF
2 days ago
- CAF
CAF deepens reforms with Governance and Finance workshop in Benin
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has taken another significant step in its mission to strengthen the governance and financial frameworks of African football with a three-day workshop held in Cotonou, Benin, from 2–4 June 2025. The initiative brought together General Secretaries and Finance Directors from 17 Member Associations of the continental football governing body. This marks the fourth edition of the Governance and Finance workshop, and with it, CAF has successfully ensured the participation of all 54 Member Associations in this new initiative. This milestone underscores CAF's commitment to inclusive development and strengthening capacity across the entire African football landscape. The workshop is part of CAF's ongoing governance drive towards a continent-wide effort, inspired by the vision of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, to make African football globally respected and sustainably run. The workshop in Cotonou, Benin was led by CAF's Member Associations Division in collaboration with the Legal Affairs Division. The intensive programme covered governance, financial processes, model statutes, conflict of interest policies, and audit mechanisms. Day one focused on legal governance, while day two explored core financial governance principles, including budgeting, procurement, and financial compliance. The final day included a review session and the creation of action plans. CAF Director of Member Associations, Sarah Mukuna, described the event as 'another milestone in CAF's commitment to empowering our Member Associations with the tools to be globally competitive and self-sustaining.' 'There is no growth in football without solid structures,' Mukuna said. 'Workshops like this equip administrators with clear understanding of governance roles, responsibilities, and ethical frameworks. Our goal is to build strong institutions at every level of African football.' Participants echoed the sentiment. Claude Paqui, General Secretary of Benin's Football Association, said: 'This is an excellent initiative. The workshop has equipped many with essential tools to govern and manage their federations effectively. For those who had prior exposure, this was a valuable refresher.' For Fernanda de Jesus Jama António, General Secretary of Angola's FA, the experience was both technical and transformative. 'We tackled fundamental topics: governance structures, corruption risks, stakeholder management, and financial control. The practical case studies made the sessions relevant and applicable to our national contexts,' she said. Pascal Deto, Finance Director of Côte d'Ivoire's FA, praised the clarity with which the workshop outlined the responsibilities of senior federation leaders. 'It helped define the roles of the President, General Secretary, and Finance Director—especially regarding delegation of authority and collaborative governance,' he said. The Cotonou gathering concluded with Member Associations developing customised action plans to implement reforms upon return to their countries. The next step in CAF's governance programme is to deliver dedicated governance workshops directly within Member Associations. This localized approach will allow for deeper engagement with individual federation structures and the specific challenges they face, further reinforcing CAF's commitment to building sustainable and accountable football institutions across Africa. Previous editions of the workshop have been held in Johannesburg, Addis Ababa and Alger. As CAF continues to roll out these initiatives across the continent, African football's future will depend not only on talent and performance but also on the strength of its institutions.
