The Trump administration’s aggressive use of tariffs under national security and unfair trade justifications disrupted global trade flows, redrew supply chains and exposed legal vulnerabilities in overdependent economies. Though Africa wasn’t directly targeted, the ripple effects – trade diversion, higher input costs and weakened multilateralism – have been significant. As African nations reassess their tariff regimes amid global pressure and local industrial goals, this session explores the evolving legal frameworks and strategic implications.

Panel discussion topics include:

• Legal basis of Trump-era tariffs: US Trade Act sections 232 and 301
• WTO disputes and the erosion of multilateral norms: impacts on Africa
• Tariff realignments disrupting African trade and investment contracts
• Balancing industrial policy with free trade commitments
• Legal strategies for protecting African industries under AfCFTA and WTO rules
• Implications for trade negotiations, dispute resolution and investor-state arbitration
• What African lawyers must anticipate in a geopolitically-driven trade landscape