Africa: How the New U.S. Tariffs Were Calculated and What They Mean for AGOA Trade Deal

Cape Town — The formula used by the Trump administration to calculate the tariffs the United States is imposing on countries across the globe is being widely criticised by trade specialists.

President Donald Trump characterised them as “reciprocal” as well as generous to the countries he has targeted – claiming that duties imposed on U.S. imports from each country amount to half those levied by those nations on American exports.

The higher tariffs to be charged beginning April 9 affect 20…