By Amos Sikaonga 
By Cecilia Chiluba
Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has emphasized the need for Zambia to reconfigure and reorganize its trade arrangements to remain afloat amid the new reciprocal tariffs instituted by the United States government.
Some of the affected African countries include Zambia with 17% tariffs, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 11%, Malawi 17%, Zimbabwe 18%, Libya 31%, Madagascar 47%, Mauritius 40%, and Tunisia 28%.
Speaking in an interview with Money News, CSPR Board Chairperson, Partner Siabutuba said the changes in the global geopolitics are a distortion in terms of trade projections for Zambia.
“The changes in the global geopolitics will have a consequence in terms of the global trade order. What we witness today between US and China and other European countries is synonymous to a trade war and Africa is always going to be in receiving end.”
“So what we are going to experience in the SADC region where there is anticipated reduction in the trade volumes is as a result of what is happening in the west and east between China and the US,” Mr. Siabutuba stated.
He said it is disheartening that Zambia that is promoting regional and global trade is also among the countries that are going to be affected by the trade war.
Mr. Siabutuba noted that Government’s position is to enhance trade between African countries as well as within the SADC region and beyond.
“However, the changes that are taking place right now are basically a distortion in terms of trade projections for Zambia. Zambia is opening markets for other countries in terms of inter-trade, Kenya for example is one of the destinations for sugar exports to that country.”
“But if we are not going to be able to export or do business within the SADC region to the extent that we had projected as Zambia, this means that we are going to experience a slow down in terms of our economic development projections. So as a country, we need to reconfigure and reorganize our trade arrangements so that we can still remain afloat and still be able to trade with our nations,” he added.
Recently, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariat said eight of its Member Countries are set to record significant reductions in trade volumes in 2025 due to new reciprocal tariffs instituted by the United States government.
Cecilia Chiluba