Zimbabwe’s main trading partners are South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and China, but it does export tobacco and rice to the United States
The president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has suspended all tariffs on goods from the United States, a few days after the White House imposed an 18 percent rate on imports from the African country.
On April 5, Mnangagwa wrote on social media platform X: “The principle of reciprocal tariffs, as a tool for safeguarding domestic employment and industrial sectors, holds merit. However, the Republic of Zimbabwe maintains a policy of fostering amicable relations with all nations, and cultivating adversarial relationships with none.
“In the spirit of constructing a mutually beneficial and positive relationship with the United States of America, under the leadership of president Trump, I will direct the Zimbabwean government to implement a suspension of all tariffs levied on goods originating from the United States.
“This measure is intended to facilitate the expansion of American imports within the Zimbabwean market, while simultaneously promoting the growth of Zimbabwean exports destined for the United States.”
Zimbabwe’s main trading partners are South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and China, but it does export tobacco and rice to the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed what he called reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world on April 2, declaring it “Liberation Day in America.”
The rates include a flat 10 percent levy, along with additional rates tailored to match each nation’s tariffs on the United States.
Tariffs on African countries included 50 percent on Lesotho, 32 percent on Angola, 18 percent on Zimbabwe, and 10 percent on Sudan.
A top White House economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, said on April 6 that more than 50 countries had contacted the Trump administration to initiate negotiations over tariffs.
On April 4, Trump wrote in a post on social media platform Truth Social: “Just had a very productive call with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who told me that Vietnam wants to cut their Tariffs down to ZERO if they are able to make an agreement with the U.S. I thanked him on behalf of our Country, and said I look forward to a meeting in the near future.”
