“Mathematics at all:” Lesotho, one of the poorest countries in Africa, up to 50 % of the US tariff

On Thursday, business leader Arnoud Bertrand called on the newly announced US tariff for Lesoto, describing it as a blatant example of “economic recovery” behind the regime of former President Donald Trump.

“To clarify how these unstable definitions were calculated, take an example of Lesotho, one of the poorest countries in Africa with only $ 2.4 billion of annual GDP, which is beaten at a 50 % tariff rate under Trump’s plan, the highest rate among all countries in the list,” Berrend said in a detailed post on X.

Lesoto, a non -coastal country in South Africa, is part of the South African Customs Union (SACU) alongside South Africa, Namibia, Iswatini and Botswana. All five countries apply a common structure for external tariffs, however, they have received completely different tariff rates from the United States – where 50 %, South Africa by 30 %, 21 %, Botswana by 37 %, and ESWatini only 10 %.

Bertrand argued that the contrast proves that the definitions are not calculated based on actual commercial policies but rather a “simplified and meaningless formula.” According to him, the United States appears to have used the bilateral trade deficit – specifically, the difference between American imports and exports – through the country’s exports to determine a virtual “tariff”, then apply half this number in the name of reciprocity.

“In the case of Lesoto,” he explained, “The account goes like this: (236 million dollars – 7 million dollars)/235 million dollars = 97 %. This is the” tariff “that Lizoto considers the accusation of the United States, and half that, or approximately 50 %, is the American” consecutive equipment “with.

Bertrand referred to the absurdity of a nation like Lesoto, where more than half of the population lives at less than $ 3.65 a day. “They simply cannot afford American products. No one will buy iPhone or Tesla on this type of income.” books.

He also asked how to achieve these definitions, the declared goal of Trump, which is to restore American manufacturing. “47.3 % of Lesoto’s diamond exports: How can you bring” manufacture “that” return to the United States “? He asked.

Instead of correcting commercial imbalances, Bertrand said that the definitions punishable for structural economic facts that they cannot control. He added: “This customs tariff represents a complete reflection of the long American development policy,” which once strengthened trade as a path of poverty.

Bertrand concluded “in the name of fighting unfair trade, America has just shown how the truly unfair trade appears.”

The Newiel Robini economist also criticized the US tariff methodology, saying that the entire formula is completely defective because it assumes that the only fair trade balance is zero. “Through this standard, since the United States runs a commercial surplus in services, other countries must impose a mutual tariff for great services against the United States,” said Robini.