Overview

• Lesotho is urgently preparing a high-level delegation to engage with U.S. officials, seeking relief from a 50% tariff set to take effect on April 9, 2025.
• The tariffs threaten nearly half of Lesotho's exports, primarily textiles, which accounted for $237 million in 2024 and over 10% of the nation's GDP.
• Lesotho's garment industry, employing 30,000 workers, faces potential devastation, with workers fearing job losses and worsening poverty.
• Trade Minister Mokhethi Shelile criticized the tariff policy as 'shocking' and inconsistent with Lesotho's low tariffs on U.S. imports.
• The government is also exploring alternative markets, including the European Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area, to reduce reliance on U.S. trade.