First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Trump administration has launched a bold new strategy to reshape U.S.-Africa relations, shifting focus from aid to aggressive commercial engagement. Announced in Abidjan on 14 May, the U.S. Commercial Diplomacy Strategy repositions diplomacy to prioritize trade, private investment, and strategic deal-making, aiming to counter China’s dominant economic presence across the continent. “From Washington we […]
Trade between Morocco and the EU grew by 7% in 2024 to 60 billion euros, the highest level since the two parties signed an association agreement 25 years ago. According to data released by the EU commission on the occasion of its participation in the agricultural fair SIAM, the EU remains Morocco’s main supplier, covering […]
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 […]
US president Donald Trump has unveiled a controversial new tariff policy, imposing sweeping duties on imports from over 180 countries, including 51 African nations. The tariffs, which include a baseline 10% on all imports and higher duties on certain countries, are part of Trump’s strategy to combat what he describes as unfair trade practices that […]
A recent report by the Mauritius Commercial Bank Group has highlighted the significant barriers posed by Africa’s inadequate transport and logistics infrastructure, which continue to hinder the region’s trade potential. Despite Africa’s growing economy, intra-Africa trade still accounts for a mere 16% of the continent’s total trade. The report, entitled ‘Harnessing Africa’s Trade Potential: Strategies […]
DP World has appointed Portuguese construction giant Mota-Engil to oversee the development of the Banana Port, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) first deep-water maritime gateway. Located in Kongo Central province along the Atlantic coast, the port is expected to revolutionize trade in the DRC and strengthen regional economic networks. Banana Port, one of Africa’s […]
Experts at a recent 57th Conference of African Ministers of Finance emphasized the need for African governments to prioritize local currencies for trade and transactions. Hanan Morsy, chief economist of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, highlighted that reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar would protect Africa’s economies from external financial shocks. Africa’s use of […]
Sudan has imposed a complete ban on Kenyan imports in response to Kenya’s role in hosting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allies, who recently formed a parallel government in Nairobi. The decision, issued by Sudan’s Ministry of Trade, halts the entry of Kenyan goods, including essential items like tea, food, and pharmaceuticals, […]
Chinese state-owned firms are playing a dominant role in port development across Africa, with a presence in 78 ports across 32 countries as builders, financiers, or operators, sparking concerns about China’s long-term geo-strategic aims. According to a new report by the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies, these Chinese firms are not only builders and […]
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has met with Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in high-level talks aimed at enhancing regional stability and fostering deeper economic partnerships. The discussions, held in Ouagadougou on Monday (10 March), covered a range of issues, with a particular emphasis on improving relations with the Economic Community of West […]