By Ephraim Ofori NUMOSUOR
In an kurun marked by geopolitical maneuvers driven by economics and strategic partnerships, Africa must not stay as a collection of disconnected markets.
The recently implemented tariffs imposed by the United States on numerous imports, which include goods from Africa, have prompted distinct reactions from different countries across the continent.
However, these individual reprisals, motivated by national interests, overlook a much greater possibility: the potential to unite under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and speak with one voice.
Now is not the moment for disjointed diplomatic efforts; instead, it is the time to rally behind a cohesive economic alliance.
For many years, the United States has leveraged its economic power to influence international trade regulations in its favor. Meanwhile, African nations, frequently engaging individually in negotiations, have typically accepted whatever terms were presented instead of striving for equitable conditions.
However, times have evolved. The African continent has transformed significantly from what it was half a century ago. Boasting a populace surpassing 1.4 billion and an aggregate Gross Domestic Product (GDP) greater than US$3.4 trillion, Africa can no longer merely be seen as a resource to exploit—it now stands as a powerful marketplace provided it unites effectively.
The AfCFTA represents the most substantial economic initiative Africa has embraced since achieving independence. This presents an opportunity to redefine the norms of trading, both amongst African nations and internationally.
Even as the ink is drying on agreements and trade barriers start to crumble across Africa, we continue to tackle global issues, such as U.S. tariffs, using the fragmented approaches of previous times.
This has to stop.
If Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa all produce separate reactions to Washington’s tariffs, the United States will remain unfazed.
But if the African Union, through AfCFTA, presents a single, well-reasoned, and firm response; backed by the promise of continental cooperation and collective bargaining, then the conversation changes; The U.S. will no longer be talking to a scattered choir; but a unified orchestra.
The truth is this: retaliatory tariffs by single African countries mean little to a superpower like the United States.
But a coordinated response, a refusal to be divided, a strategy backed by shared interests and pooled resources, would send a message: Africa is no longer a pawn in global trade games. We are players. And we’re playing to win.
But unity isn’t just about tariffs. It’s about creating our own value chains, reducing reliance on imports, and increasing intra-African trade.
It’s about leveraging our shared resources; oil, minerals, agriculture, and human capital through regional cooperation. If the U.S. can impose tariffs without fearing African reprisal, it’s because we’ve yet to recognize the strength of our own collective hand.
Let’s not forget: economic integration is not merely a technical policy. It is a political choice. A bold one. One that demands vision, leadership, and a willingness to break from the colonial patterns of economic dependency.
If our leaders muster that bravery at present, amid this external strain, we could reflect someday and remark: it was the American tariffs that ultimately propelled Africa toward economic adulthood.
This marks a crucial point. We can either keep playing it safe, working in isolation, or we can unite, leveraging AfCFTA beyond mere commerce—as a defense mechanism, an offensive tool, and a declaration of our shared destiny. The globe is observing. It falls upon Africa to make a wise decision.
>>>The author is a Financial Economist and Research & Policy Analyst. They can be contacted at 0248803710 or
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