The winds of global trade have shifted once again—and not in our favour.

Major economies are escalating tariff wars that are reshaping global commerce. The United States has imposed up to 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods, with China swiftly retaliating by raising its own tariffs on American products to 125 per cent.

These are not just headlines—they are tremors shaking the foundations of global supply chains, investment decisions, and trade flows.

And Africa? We are not exempt from the aftershocks.

Recent developments reveal that several African countries are being pulled into this economic tug-of-war: Lesotho, a textile-exporting nation, now faces a 50 per cent US tariff, placing thousands of jobs at risk. Madagascar, the top global supplier of vanilla, is being hit with a 47 per cent US tariff, threatening one of its most valuable industries.

Mauritius is contending with 40% tariffs on a range of products. South Africa is being taxed up to 31 per cent on steel, aluminium, and citrus exports. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, now faces a 14 per cent tariff, which adds pressure to its oil-dominated export market.

Ivory Coast, a cocoa powerhouse, is staring down 21 per cent tariffs on one of its most essential exports. Zimbabwe, in an effort to ease tensions, has eliminated tariffs on US goods, despite suffering an 18 per cent tariff on its own exports.

This isn't just an economic inconvenience—it’s a wake-up call. Global markets are becoming less predictable and more protectionist. Africa must no longer wait to be included. It must stand up, structure itself, and trade within.

This is where the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) becomes our shield—and our sword.

By breaking down trade barriers, standardising customs procedures, and opening up access to new markets across Africa, AfCFTA allows African businesses to scale, diversify, and innovate without being at the mercy of foreign policies.

Now, imagine: cotton grown in Burkina Faso is spun and sewn in Ethiopia, and sold in Accra. Cocoa harvested in Côte d’Ivoire is processed into premium chocolate in Ghana, and shipped to supermarkets in Kenya. Lithium mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo fuels battery factories in Rwanda or South Africa, powering an African green revolution.

These are not dreams. These are strategies. And they are achievable—if we act now.

The time to act is now. The global economy is increasingly fragmented. Africa must not be collateral damage in someone else’s trade war. We must turn inward, trade across borders, and invest in value chains that belong to us.

The question is no longer why AfCFTA. The question is how fast we can align, collaborate, and deliver.

Governments must prioritise infrastructure that facilitates intercontinental trade. Private sector leaders must form partnerships beyond national borders. African youth must be empowered to build businesses for a continental market, not just a local one.

I say all of this to say that: trade wars will come and go. Tariffs will rise and fall. But Africa’s greatest insurance policy lies in trading with itself.

We must take control of our destiny—not with isolation, but with integration.

Let us build industries, create jobs, and keep wealth circulating on our own soil.

If the world is divided by tariffs, let Africa be united by trade.

The author is Daniel McKorley, the Chief Executive Officer of McDan Group.