Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, announced on Saturday that the country would suspend all tariffs on imports from the United States. This decision comes in response to US President Donald Trump’s move to impose an 18% tariff on goods from Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s key trading partners are the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and China, with minimal exports to the US, mainly consisting of tobacco and sugar.
Mnangagwa shared the news on social media, stating, “I will instruct the Zimbabwean government to suspend all tariffs on goods from the United States.” He emphasized that the measure aims to promote the growth of US imports to Zimbabwe, as well as to increase Zimbabwean exports to the US.
US government figures show that bilateral trade between the two nations amounted to $111.6 million in 2024.
Relations between Zimbabwe and the US have been strained for years, largely due to sanctions, particularly those imposed during Robert Mugabe’s tenure. Zimbabwe has often blamed these sanctions for its ongoing economic difficulties, leading the country to forge closer ties with the UAE and China. While the US lifted its broader sanctions program last year, it still maintains targeted measures against Mnangagwa and other senior officials over concerns related to human rights and corruption.
Following Mnangagwa’s announcement, journalist and activist Hopewell Chin’ono criticized the move, describing it as a “knee-jerk reaction” likely aimed at easing sanctions. He expressed concerns about the potential consequences of such unilateral actions, warning that they could undermine regional economic cooperation and harm Zimbabwe’s relationships with its main trading partners.
AFP
