The Gambia has, for now, escaped a new wave of punitive tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which target several major African economies including South Africa and Nigeria.

In a move that risks straining trade relations across the continent, Trump announced that goods exported from South Africa to the United States will face a 30% tariff starting 7 August, marking the highest rate imposed on any sub-Saharan African country. The sharp increase reflects the U.S. administration’s increasingly tense relationship with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government.

Other African nations have also been hit: Nigeria, Ghana, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe will all face a 15% tariff, also effective in seven days.

In North Africa, exports from Algeria and Libya will be subject to the same steep 30% tariff as South Africa, while Tunisian products will attract a slightly lower 25% duty. Goods from Kenya and Ethiopia will be taxed at a more moderate 10% rate.

Tariffs are essentially taxes placed on imported goods—typically calculated as a percentage of the item’s value. The Trump administration argues that such measures are necessary to protect American businesses from foreign competition, revive domestic manufacturing, and safeguard U.S. jobs.

While The Gambia has been excluded from the current list, trade analysts warn that no country is immune if Washington continues to escalate its protectionist trade agenda.