The US just hit Namibian goods with a 21% tax when they enter America. This has made the Namibian government very worried. They fear this will mess up how they sell things, cut money coming in, and make their stuff less wanted around the world. The tax happens even though America promised to help African countries sell things to US buyers without extra costs. Donald Trump made this choice, and it has scared money people all over the globe.
America lets many African goods come in free through a plan called AGOA, which was made back in 2000. This plan helps poorer countries sell over 1,800 different items to US shoppers without paying extra fees. Namibia is sending dates, blueberries, and charcoal to America right now. Penda Naanda from the Namibian trade office says they have seen what Trump did with these new taxes.
Naanda thinks this will badly shake up world business deals. It breaks America's promise to help African countries grow by letting them sell things easily to US buyers. He says the tax makes it hard for Namibian goods to compete with other things sold in US stores. The US bases these taxes on how much more they buy than sell, not on fair trade deals between friends.
The US said on April 2, 2025, that it would charge the same taxes other countries charge. This might cancel out the help from AGOA and change how much stuff moves between countries. Yes, Namibia does charge 42% on some US items, but many US things come in without any tax at all. The rules come from a group called SACU that includes several southern African countries.
The government wants to talk with all businesses hurt by this to see how bad things might get. They plan to find ways to fight these problems together. These taxes could make Namibian beef and fish cost more in America. Then, US people might buy less from Namibia because prices went up. This would hurt many farmers and fishing companies who sell to the US market.
America lets many African goods come in free through a plan called AGOA, which was made back in 2000. This plan helps poorer countries sell over 1,800 different items to US shoppers without paying extra fees. Namibia is sending dates, blueberries, and charcoal to America right now. Penda Naanda from the Namibian trade office says they have seen what Trump did with these new taxes.
Naanda thinks this will badly shake up world business deals. It breaks America's promise to help African countries grow by letting them sell things easily to US buyers. He says the tax makes it hard for Namibian goods to compete with other things sold in US stores. The US bases these taxes on how much more they buy than sell, not on fair trade deals between friends.
The US said on April 2, 2025, that it would charge the same taxes other countries charge. This might cancel out the help from AGOA and change how much stuff moves between countries. Yes, Namibia does charge 42% on some US items, but many US things come in without any tax at all. The rules come from a group called SACU that includes several southern African countries.
The government wants to talk with all businesses hurt by this to see how bad things might get. They plan to find ways to fight these problems together. These taxes could make Namibian beef and fish cost more in America. Then, US people might buy less from Namibia because prices went up. This would hurt many farmers and fishing companies who sell to the US market.
