African trade ministers are set to meet on April 14 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to coordinate a collective response to the United States’ recent imposition of a 10% tariff on a wide range of African exports. The emergency meeting, organized under the auspices of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, comes amid rising concern over the potential economic fallout for African economies. The tariff, announced last month, affects at least 51 of the 55 member states of the AfCFTA and targets key African export sectors including textiles, agricultural products, and processed goods—amounting to over $10 billion in annual trade. The move has sparked criticism from African leaders and the African Union (AU), which has formally urged U.S. President Donald Trump to reverse the decision, warning that the measure undermines decades of trade cooperation.
Analysts say the U.S. policy could jeopardize preferential trade arrangements under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants duty-free access to African goods. Several governments have already reported disrupted shipments and canceled contracts since the tariff announcement.
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene said the upcoming forum aims to build consensus on diplomatic and legal countermeasures while exploring alternative trade alliances to cushion the blow. “This unilateral tariff contradicts the spirit of mutual cooperation we’ve sought to build with the United States,” he said.
The meeting will also evaluate the broader implications for Africa’s integration agenda and efforts to boost intra-African trade, especially at a time when the continent is pushing to diversify its export markets and strengthen industrialization.
