Africa is trying to adapt to the new reality of duties imposed by Donald Trump, with the Epirus countries facing some of the highest export charges. But what could evolve into a crisis perhaps be an opportunity for the United States opponent, China, Which has long been flirting with African countries and now offers them a lifeline.

“We (Africa) go straight into China’s hands,” Nigerian economist Bismarck Vovane told CNN.

“This is the unfortunate result,” Ravane said of the expected further turn Africa to China, which has become the largest bilateral trading partner of Epirus in recent years.

Four African nations – Libya, South Africa, Algeria and Tunisia – They face some of the stricter duties imposed by the Trump government, with export burdens ranging from 25% to 30%. Eighteen other countries in Epirus were affected by 15%duties, according to a modified duty package published Thursday by the White House.

In April, when US import duties were first announced, Trump described them as “reciprocal” by targeting countries that, he said, had commercial deficits with the US. But Trump based his duties on countries’ trade deficits with the United States – not on the duties they impose.

South Africa, one of the forces of Epirus, questioned the imposition of a 30% duty on its exports to the US, saying Trump’s decision was not based on a “accurate depiction of the available commercial data”.

An opportunity for China

China has been offered to mitigate the impact of US duties on Africa, saying in June that it will stop duties on imports for almost all African partners.

South African researcher New Letsvalo urged countries to ‘turn exclusively to China And make it the next US. “

“America gradually loses its world leadership position,” Lecvalo said, adding that the more countries “depend less on the US, the greater the opportunity for China to become an alternative.”

Prior to the duties deadline, the US had not entered into a trade agreement with any African nation despite Epirus’ efforts to avoid duties, underlining Africa’s position on the White House priorities list.

Letsvalo described America’s failure to negotiate an agreement with Africa as “an open target for China”.

The impact of Trump’s duties is already felt in some of the thriving economies of Africa and some of the poorest of Epirus, such as Lesoto, which imposed a 15%duty. Previously, a 50% duty was imposed – one of the highest rates – before the charges were amended.

THE Lesoto Prime Minister Samuel Matekanehe said in June that the huge duty, coupled with the interruption of US aid to the nation of just over 2 million inhabitants, “has paralyzed industries that previously maintained thousands of jobs.” Prior to the duties, the Lesoto benefited from a US trade agreement that allowed it and other eligible sub -Saharan African countries to export goods to the US in dictatorial.

Authorities in Lesoto have declared a two -year disaster situation due to duties, as the country is preparing for their impact, with textiles already facing huge job losses.

Other industries in South Africa, such as the automotive sector, also face the risk of financial shocks, analysts said.

Is China’s dependence dangerous?

Letsvalo believes that there are accompanying dangers behind the tempting choice to rely on Beijing to mitigate the impact of Trump’s duties.

The US alternation with China “could be dangerous,” he said, “especially for some newly established industries in (African) countries.”

“If they are not protected, Chinese products will overwhelm them and overcome them in competition, as many African countries are prices sensitive,” he warned.

China has imposed some of its own imbalanced trade agreements in Africa, with commercial deficits distorted in favor, according to China-Global South Project (CGSP), an organization that monitors China’s cooperation with developing countries.

In addition, most of Beijing exports to Africa consists mainly of processed products, while Epirus exports to China are usually raw materials.

South African Ramafassa fought in favor of a balanced trade balance with China when he met with his Chinese counterpart Si Jinping in Beijing last year.

Lecvalo advised that while Africa is based on China for trade, it should also look for domestic alternatives.

He recommended the rapid application of the Afcfta African continental zone (AFCFTA), an agreement signed by the Epirus nations to strengthen trade between them.