The recent tariffs announced by the Trump administration are seen as a major obstacle for African entrepreneurs striving to enter the U.S. market, especially in the chocolate industry.
New Tariffs Impact African Chocolatiers Amid U.S. Trade Changes
New Tariffs Impact African Chocolatiers Amid U.S. Trade Changes
New tariffs imposed by the U.S. are significantly affecting African chocolate producers and other exporters.
Dana Mroueh, the owner of Mon Choco in Ivory Coast, was on the verge of expanding her organic chocolate business into stores in major U.S. cities like New York and Washington when the sudden announcement of new import tariffs disrupted her plans. The newly set tariffs impact the cocoa trade, which Ivy Coast dominates as the world’s largest cocoa producer. With the U.S. being the leading consumer of chocolate—mostly sourced from Canada and Mexico—Mroueh’s hopes of increasing African chocolate presence in America have been dashed.
“Prior to the tariffs, we aimed to start exporting our unique mango, ginger, and coffee-flavored chocolates soon,” she lamented. The 21 percent levy now threatens not only her sales but also the broader economic prospects for African nations that have relied on the U.S. market. The implications extend beyond chocolate as industries from car parts in South Africa to clothing in Madagascar and denim from Lesotho eye hefty tariffs of up to 50 percent. “We’re definitely going to face some issues,” Mroueh added, highlighting the risk that these tariffs pose to emerging African economies.
