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Trade relations between the United States and Africa have declined significantly in recent years. Many of the fastest growing economies in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa, but the region has become less of a priority for the US.
“Donald Trump has a total contempt for Africa, he has not traveled here and if he were re-elected I doubt that he will visit the continent. He thinks this is not worth his attention, ”says Professor John Stremlau, professor of international relations at the University of the Witwatersrand.
As Africa reflects on the impact of President Donald Trump on its continent and what could follow the November elections, a strong signal can be seen of the changing influence of the United States in the Trump administration’s decision to block funding. Washington’s decision has damaged the ability of African countries with struggling health systems to provide much-needed services. Using Lesotho as a microcosm, this article explores what the possible re-election of President Trump could mean for Africa.
No access to contraceptives
About two hours away from Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, the effects of Washington’s decision to cut funding are being felt on the ground. Surrounded by hills and mud huts that dot the landscape, the only clinic in the village of Ha Mojela has been closed. The doors are closed, the padlock is rusty, and the condom box is empty. Women here have nowhere to turn.
“I used to visit the clinic every month to collect contraceptives, but now I have been forced to buy them because the clinic I trusted was closed. I can’t afford to do that every month and I’m afraid of getting pregnant, ”said Malerato Nyai, a 36-year-old slender and shy woman who smiled nervously. His comments resonated with several of his neighbors.
Unwanted pregnancies and a 40% increase in abortions in African countries have been linked to the United States’ decision to block US federal funding for NGOs that provide abortions and abortion counseling. The policy was reintroduced by President Donald Trump in 2017. This means that a decision made in Washington has had a ripple effect on many African women living in countries that are heavily dependent on foreign aid.
“We had to abandon some hard-to-reach areas that we were providing services to. The consequences are dire, because we are talking about high rates of unwanted pregnancies among young couples and girls, “said Tlali Matela of the Lesotho Family Planning Association.
But it is not just the lack of contraception that is affecting people in many African countries. The loss of US funding has led to cuts in other services, such as HIV testing and cervical cancer screening.
“When US funding was cut, it meant that the people we were serving were left behind … The HIV services that clients would normally access have also been limited,” says Mr. Matela.
The impact of the Trump administration’s decision to cut funding has been felt in sub-Saharan Africa more than anywhere else in the world because the region has the highest HIV infection rate in the world. AIDS remains the leading cause of death in the region.
Trade policy change
But it is not just about health services. Trade relations between the United States and Africa have been declining. It is feared that the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act known as AGOA will not be renewed beyond 2025. Signed into law 20 years ago, the trade agreement gives eligible sub-Saharan nations duty-free access to the US market for more than 1,800 products.
Lesotho, a mountainous kingdom within the borders of South Africa, is considered one of AGOA’s major success stories. The trade agreement played an important role in the revival of the country’s textile industry, resulting in more than 46,000 jobs, most of them carried out by women.
Lesotho’s textile industry is the largest private sector employer in the country, and that can be clearly seen in the factories. Working hours are long, but the female workforce works hard, producing thousands of garments every day. Despite the low wages, hundreds of thousands of people depend heavily on this industry.
If the trade agreement is not renewed, all of these people could lose their jobs.
“It would be terrible for all of us. If the AGOA agreement is not extended, we will have to close and we will all be out of work. We won’t be able to compete with the outside world, ”said David Chen, owner of a Taiwanese textile factory that employs 1,600 workers.
President Trump’s ‘benign disinterest’ in Africa
In many African countries, the United States is no longer the preferred investor. This has left a gap for India, Turkey, Russia and China to increase their diplomacy, trade and investment here. A large part of the continent’s infrastructure is powered by Chinese companies. Most of it is backed by funds from Beijing. China is building roads, ports and airports throughout Africa, further strengthening its presence on the continent. All this in exchange for resources, friendship, political and economic influence.
While many have welcomed China’s pleasant relations with Africa, describing it as a win-win situation, others have warned against it, saying that Beijing is attempting to recolonize the African continent.
China is intervening
China became a major player in Africa long before President Trump came to power. Trade between Africa and China has grown rapidly, reaching $ 166 billion in 2011, according to the United Nations. Beijing further accelerated its influence on the continent under the Trump administration. China is building railways, train stations, ports, airports, and highways throughout Africa.
Here in the picturesque valley of Qacha’s Nek, just a few kilometers from the South African border, construction of a road began a year ago, thanks to a loan from the Exim Bank of China. The 91 km long highway runs parallel to the Drakensberg mountain range and costs $ 128 million, of which the Chinese government provided $ 100 million.
The United States is catching up on its trade rivalry with China in Africa. While President Trump’s mission is to make America great, his administration has largely remained detached from one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. What remains to be seen is what the outcome of the next US election will mean for Africa.
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