22 African Countries Affected as America Rewrites Global Trade Rules
Kampala, Uganda – August 3, 2025 | Rising Nation News Desk
The U.S. has introduced a new round of global tariffs, and Uganda is on the list. In a bold move reshaping global trade, U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs of up to 41% on imports from dozens of countries, including 22 African nations, under a new global trade regime.
Uganda, which previously faced a 10% tariff, has now been slapped with a 15% tariff, affecting its key exports to the U.S. such as coffee, fish, flowers, and vanilla.
This marks a turning point for Uganda’s trade strategy and raises fresh concerns about the future of African access to American markets under AGOA and other preferential trade programs.
What Changed? Tariffs Now in Effect After 90-Day Delay
Back in April, President Trump warned of “reciprocal” tariffs aimed at reducing America’s trade deficits. A 90-day grace period was granted to allow countries to renegotiate trade terms, but most talks failed.
Now, the tariffs are live, and their impact is immediate.
While South Africa retained a steep 30% tariff, countries like Lesotho saw a dramatic reduction from 50% to 15%. Uganda, along with most of Sub-Saharan Africa, was hit with the standard 15% tariff.
African Countries Affected: Uganda Among 22 on the List
Here’s a quick look at the new U.S. tariffs for selected African nations:
| Rank | Country | New tariff | April tariff |
| 1 | Algeria | 30% | 30% |
| 2 | Libya | 30% | 31% |
| 3 | South Africa | 30% | 30% |
| 4 | Tunisia | 25% | 28% |
| 5 | Angola | 15% | 32% |
| 6 | Botswana | 15% | 37% |
| 7 | Cameroon | 15% | 11% |
| 8 | Chad | 15% | 13% |
| 9 | Côte d’Ivoire | 15% | 21% |
| 10 | DRC | 15% | 11% |
| 11 | Equatorial Guinea | 15% | 13% |
| 12 | Ghana | 15% | 10% |
| 13 | Lesotho | 15% | 50% |
| 14 | Madagascar | 15% | 47% |
| 15 | Malawi | 15% | 17% |
| 16 | Mauritius | 15% | 40% |
| 17 | Mozambique | 15% | 16% |
| 18 | Namibia | 15% | 21% |
| 19 | Nigeria | 15% | 14% |
| 20 | Uganda | 15% | 10% |
| 21 | Zambia | 15% | 17% |
| 22 | Zimbabwe | 15% | 18% |
What This Means for Uganda
Uganda’s new 15% tariff is likely to impact its export competitiveness in the U.S. market. With the U.S. being a top non-African buyer of Ugandan coffee, fish, and horticulture products, this change could hurt small and medium-sized exporters the most.
“This move threatens Uganda’s momentum under AGOA and could force us to diversify markets faster than planned,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Trade.
Regional Perspective: A Call for Intra-African Trade
East African neighbours like Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania were notably not included in this tariff round. Experts say this highlights the urgency for Uganda to deepen regional value chains and leverage AfCFTA to build economic resilience.
“Washington’s move is a warning that Africa must not rely too heavily on preferential access,” said Dr. Elias Kaggwa, a regional trade analyst. “The future is in regional integration, value addition, and market diversification.”
What’s Next for Ugandan Exporters?
- Short-term: Possible price hikes in U.S. markets or reduced orders
- Medium-term: A strategic shift toward regional and Asian markets
- Long-term: Increased investment in product competitiveness and export infrastructure
Trump’s new tariffs are more than a trade headline, they are a wake-up call for Uganda and the wider continent to strengthen intra-African trade, invest in value addition, and reduce dependency on volatile global policies.
