Namibia has asked the United States to respect international trade agreements and engage in open dialogue with countries affected by new U.S. tariffs. The appeal comes after Washington imposed higher import duties that include products from Namibia.
On Tuesday, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Selma Ashipala-Musavyi addressed lawmakers in Parliament. She said the U.S. acted alone in introducing a 21/percent “reciprocal tariff” on Namibian exports. This decision, made under Executive Order 14257, was signed on April 2 and is set to take effect on April 9.
The minister criticized the U.S. for failing to consult with Namibia before enforcing the tariffs. She said this move goes against the principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which supports transparency and cooperation between member countries.
“Trade actions like these should be discussed beforehand,” Ashipala-Musavyi said. “Unilateral decisions hurt the trust and structure of the global trading system.”
She warned that such steps can damage smaller economies like Namibia. These actions, she added, may also break WTO rules and weaken fair trade globally.
Namibia plans to monitor the situation closely through its diplomatic missions. The country also wants to know how the new policy fits within existing trade agreements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which aims to support trade between the U.S. and African nations.
In addition, the minister said Namibia would work with regional groups such as the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). This will help assess how the tariffs could affect the broader region and guide a possible joint response.
Namibia’s message highlights a larger concern among smaller economies. As larger countries make sudden trade changes, developing nations are left vulnerable. Namibia is now standing up for a fair, rules-based system that ensures all voices are heard in global trade decisions.