Namibia Expresses Alarm Over US Tariffs, Cautions Against Trade Disruptions

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Windhoek, April 5 (NationPress) The Namibian government has voiced its worries regarding the recently instituted US tariffs, indicating that this action has created "turmoil in global trade" and could adversely affect the nation's exports.

The Ministry of International Relations and Trade stated, "The Government of the Republic of Namibia has acknowledged the recent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US on African nations, which includes a 21 percent tariff on Namibia."

According to the ministry, "This decision by the US administration has caused turbulence in global trade, undermining the commitments outlined in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)." They further expressed concern that this measure might lead to unfair market conditions for Namibian products competing in the US market.

AGOA serves as a non-reciprocal trade framework designed to assist the development of African nations by offering favorable access to US markets.

In addressing the US tariffs, the ministry pointed out that these duties are not aligned with the Most Favored Nation principle; instead, they are calculated based on the US trade deficit with each nation relative to the overall import value from all trading partners, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

To understand the full effects of the US tariffs, the ministry indicated that it would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to evaluate the impact, noting that various strategies are being considered to lessen the repercussions, though specific details remain undisclosed at this moment.

Furthermore, the ministry cautioned that the newly enacted tariffs might diminish the competitiveness of Namibian beef and fish products in the US market, potentially leading to a drop in demand and sales volumes owing to price hikes instigated by the additional duties.