Africa caught in crossfire as China warns against U.S.-aligned trade deals

Amid a deepening U.S.-China trade war, Beijing has issued a stern warning to nations — particularly in Africa — not to strike trade deals with the United States “at the expense of China’s interests,” raising the stakes for countries already grappling with economic strain.
China’s Ministry of Commerce declared it “will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner” against any country seen as aligning with Washington’s agenda to isolate Beijing economically. The warning comes as president Donald Trump intensifies his tariff campaign, leveraging trade talks with dozens of nations to pressure them into limiting ties with China in exchange for tariff exemptions.
The pressure puts African countries in a delicate position. Many are eager to diversify trade and ease their reliance on China, especially amid mounting debt and post-pandemic recovery. Yet, China remains Africa’s largest bilateral trading partner, with trade reaching $282 billion in 2023, accounting for 20% of the region’s exports and 16% of its imports. Some African states, like Lesotho and Zimbabwe, have welcomed U.S. overtures, while others fear Beijing may retaliate by cutting investments or delaying critical infrastructure projects.
Tit-for-tat tariffs between the U.S. and China have reached 145% on Chinese exports to the U.S. — the highest of the global tariffs — and 125% on US exports to China. Trump’s tariffs as part of his so-called “liberation day” campaign — ranging from 10% to 50% on African goods — have further complicated matters, casting doubt on future benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Caught between two superpowers, Africa must now balance opportunity with risk as it navigates a volatile geopolitical landscape likely to shape the continent’s economic future.