SADC to review reciprocal tariffs impact

(Contributed Photo)

In response to the reciprocal tariffs recently imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced today that it will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the effects of global geopolitical developments on various sectors across the African region.

The findings will be presented at an extraordinary meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers scheduled for June 2025.

Additionally, the SADC Secretariat will evaluate the specific impact of the U.S. trade measures on the Region.

The outcomes of this assessment will be reviewed during the upcoming June 2025 meetings of the Committee of Ministers of Trade (CMT) and the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Integration (MTF).

These discussions will inform recommendations to the SADC Council of Ministers, which will meet in August 2025 to determine a coordinated response by Member States.

Penda Naanda, Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, voiced concern in a statement issued earlier this month regarding the 21% reciprocal tariffs imposed on Namibia.

He emphasized that such measures undermine the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which aims to provide African countries with preferential access to the U.S. market.

The newly imposed tariffs are expected to have a significant impact on Namibia’s exports—particularly beef and fish—by increasing prices and potentially reducing demand in the U.S. market.

To counter the challenges posed by these trade restrictions, Naanda stated that the Ministry will consult with relevant stakeholders and consider a range of strategies to mitigate the impact.