U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to impose new tariffs—starting at 10%—on imports from smaller nations, including several countries in Africa and the Caribbean.
The proposed policy marks a significant shift in America’s trade approach, with Trump framing the measure as a push for “reciprocal” trade relations.
Some nations could face even steeper penalties. Lesotho, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, may see tariffs rise to as much as 50% on its exports to the U.S., according to early estimates.
Although the tariffs are not yet in effect and are subject to a three-month consultation period, governments across the developing world are bracing for potential economic fallout.
“These are countries—many of them. We’ll probably just set one tariff for all of them,” Trump said when asked which nations would be impacted, hinting at a blanket approach to smaller economies.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick backed the proposal, saying it reflects the President’s view that small nations should be treated in a way that maximizes U.S. leverage.
“We’re talking about the Caribbean, African countries—there are many,” he said.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from the World Trade Organization. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged the U.S. to exempt African countries from the proposed measures, warning that such tariffs could destabilize fragile economies and reverse hard-won development gains.
With the consultation window now open, affected countries and global trade organizations are calling for urgent dialogue to prevent broader economic disruption, particularly among nations heavily reliant on U.S. export markets.
