The government of Lesotho is arranging a delegation to Washington to meet with President Donald Trump at the earliest opportunity regarding the implementation of a 50% tariff on exports, local media reported on Friday.
Lesotho News Agency Quoted Mokety Sherrill, the trade minister of the nation, who confirmed that a delegation is set to depart for the United States on April 12th. Reuters.
“The recent policy actions taken by the US are alarming… [It] Shelile stated. He mentioned that discussions have already commenced with representatives at the US embassy, the capital of the nation. A trade region on the continent. ”
The delegation was formed after an unusual event in March, where the country invited Trump to visit following a speech at a joint congressional session. Trump claimed during a speech that the federal government “spent $8 million to promote LGBTQ+ in the Lesotho nation of Africa.”
“Lesotho is a very significant and distinct country globally. I am happy to invite the President and other global leaders to Lesotho,” stated Foreign Minister Lejo Mpoggioan at that moment.
Lesotho is an elevated nation located in South Africa, completely encircled by South Africa and governed by a king with limited authority. President Donald Trump made headlines on Wednesday after he unveiled a significant list of “reciprocal” tariffs for countries trading with the United States during an event termed “Liberation Day.” Trump has committed to reversing the trade deficit that has developed with foreign nations and significantly enhancing domestic manufacturing. In pursuit of this goal, the Office of US Trade Representative (USTR) calculated new tariffs on countries exporting to the US by dividing the US trade surplus by the total exports to the United States. The newly established tariff rate is half of that value.
Lesotho depends heavily on the US to purchase a significant portion of its output. – This mainly consists of diamonds and garments – However, despite exporting minimal American goods, it has been assigned the highest tariffs at 50%. Speaking on Friday, Shelile stated that Lesotho also exported 45% of its goods to the US. Some recent reports indicate that US-bound exports comprise 10% of Lesotho’s GDP. Other reports, including those published by British media on Friday Guardian, claimed that 20% of exports in 2024 were directed to the United States, predominantly including its clothing.
Lesotho’s economy is heavily reliant on impoverished residents employed in large factories producing jeans and other apparel for the US market. Guardian compared to other economic options in Lesotho, noted that tens of thousands of women are employed by American brand names in jobs that are “still in high demand.”
Lesotho employs roughly 30,000 garment workers, primarily women, in factories owned by Chinese and Taiwanese companies producing clothing for American brands such as Levi, Calvin Klein, and Walmart. Most jobs pay a monthly minimum wage ranging from $146 to $163, yet these positions remain highly coveted in poor, largely informal economies.
Reports on human rights from the Ministry of Labor and State Departments reveal that Lesotho faces issues related to widespread child labor and human trafficking.
“Children in Lesotho are occasionally exposed to severe child labor forms, including commercial sexual exploitation, due to human trafficking. Children also perform hazardous tasks such as herding animals.” noted in 2023.
In its 2024 human trafficking report, the State Department stated: asserting that Lesotho is a prime location for the trafficking of orphans.
“In Lesotho, traffickers exploit Basotho children, especially orphans, for domestic servitude and forced labor in sexual exploitation,” stated the State Department. “Young girls working in households in exchange for lodging and meals are susceptible to forced labor and mistreatment. In recent years, there have been anecdotal reports of “Workshop Masters” coercing children to produce and sell crafts at market sales.”
Only the French territories of St. Pierre and Miquelon faced 50% tariffs from the White House this week, but other nations are on the verge. Madagascar, reliant heavily on vanilla exports, has a tariff of 47%, while Communist Vietnam has been subjected to a 46% tariff. Vietnam, similarly to Lesotho, has already announced a delegation to the US to advocate for the removal of tariffs.
The reaction of the country’s economists to the news of the 50% tariffs has been one of alarm. One economist, Thabo Qhesi, warned Reuters that Rehho would likely be “destroyed” as tariffs “devastate” the clothing industry.
A significant portion of these imports are the result of Africa’s Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has allowed tax-free imports from struggling African nations into affluent American markets for numerous years.
“AGOA will be available to eligible sub-Saharan African nations with over 5,000 products qualified for tax-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences program, plus over 1,800 products with tax-free access to the US market.” It will clarify. The program is set to conclude this year, and officials in Lesotho have already cautioned it could be damaging to their economy.
“When AGOA concludes, it will immediately affect the economy with potential job losses ranging from 30,000 to 40,000,” Lesotho’s King Reticy III mentioned. He stated to Agence France-Presse (AFP) in March. “This is a concern, but if it occurs, we must address it.”
Although technically vibrant, the introduction of tariffs effectively negates the advantages of AGOA.
