US President Donald Trump has defended his latest tariff hikes during a Washington summit on Wednesday. He said the five African countries at the table with him were unlikely to feel the tariff pinch. “I haven’t thought of it, but I like him, him, him, him and him. No, I don’t think so, not too much. These are friends of mine now.” The mini-summit, attended by leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal, aimed to strengthen US economic ties with Africa amid growing Chinese influence. Notably absent were BRICS members, South Africa and Nigeria.
Trump announced plans to escalate reciprocal tariffs, with South Africa facing a 30% levy on US-bound exports from August. He described the tariffs as based on “common sense, deficits, and how we’ve been treated over the years.” However, he suggested the five African nations present might avoid these levies, emphasizing his rapport with their leaders.
The summit highlighted America’s interest in Africa’s untapped natural resources and included Trump’s push for defense cooperation. “We encourage better investments in defense, hopefully buying our equipment, because we make the best military equipment,” he said, referencing recent US actions in Iran and the fight against terrorism in Africa.
The absence of South Africa and Nigeria, despite their larger trade volumes with the US compared to the summit attendees, underscored the selective nature of the event. South Africa is now seeking to negotiate more favorable trade terms as global economies await further tariff announcements.
Trump’s tariff strategy aims to bolster US influence in Africa, but his policies continue to spark debate over their impact on global trade relations.
