Zimbabwe Drops Tariffs on US Goods After Trump’s 18% Export Levy
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced the suspension of tariffs on US imports in a bid to rebuild diplomatic ties and stimulate trade with Washington, days after the Trump administration imposed an 18% levy on Zimbabwean exports.
“This measure is intended to facilitate the expansion of American imports within the Zimbabwean market, while simultaneously promoting the growth of Zimbabwean exports destined for the United States,” Mnangagwa stated via social media platform X.
The surprise move comes amid historically frosty relations between the two nations, largely stemming from Zimbabwe’s controversial land reforms and human rights record over the past two decades. Although the Biden administration lifted broad sanctions in 2024, targeted restrictions on 11 individuals, including Mnangagwa himself, remain in place.
Critics have been quick to weigh in. Zimbabwean political analyst Tendai Mbanje said the policy shift was unlikely to produce tangible economic benefits for Zimbabwe. “This decision disproportionately favors the US,” he said.
Award-winning journalist and vocal government critic Hopewell Chin’ono echoed this sentiment, accusing the president of attempting to “appease” Trump in hopes of sanctions relief. “It’s a long shot,” Chin’ono said, urging Mnangagwa to seek a unified Southern African Development Community (SADC) response instead of acting unilaterally.
As current SADC chair, Mnangagwa is under pressure to show regional leadership. “When countries face global economic shifts, coordinated responses offer better leverage and stability,” Chin’ono added.
US government data shows trade between the two nations reached only $111.6 million in 2024, with US exports to Zimbabwe increasing by 10.6% to $43.8 million, while Zimbabwean exports fell by 41% to $67.8 million.
Mnangagwa insists the tariff removal is part of Zimbabwe’s broader strategy to “foster amicable relations with all nations and cultivate adversarial relationships with none.”
Meanwhile, Lesotho, which was hit with a staggering 50% US tariff, has announced plans to send a delegation to Washington for negotiations, signaling rising tensions in the region as African economies scramble to navigate shifting US trade policies.
Source: BBC
