Thursday marked a devastating day for Lesotho’s textile industry as news broke that the country’s exports to the United States would soon face a 50% tariff, significantly impacting local businesses. Teboho Kobeli, founder of Afri-Expo Textiles, expressed his concern about the severe consequences for his company and the 2,000 people it employs, as rising prices could force them out of the critical US market.
Lesotho has long been a symbol of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), a US initiative that has provided duty-free access to American consumers for select goods from Africa for over 25 years. The act was designed to foster industrialization, create jobs, and reduce poverty across the continent, shifting from aid to trade.
While the long-term success of Agoa is debated, it has been credited with creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, especially in Africa’s textile industry. However, President Donald Trump’s recent tariff decisions have cast doubt on the future of Agoa, leaving its status uncertain.
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