US Tariffs Keep Lesotho’s Textile Industry on the Brink Despite Cuts

Lesotho’s textile industry, a lifeline for over 30,000 workers, is facing a crisis that demands Washington's urgent attention. Though President Trump’s administration recently reduced threatened tariffs on Lesotho’s exports to the U.S. from a crippling 50% to 15%, this cut falls short of restoring fair competitive ground. Instead, it highlights a costly misstep in American trade policy that disproportionately harms vulnerable economies while undermining allies in Africa. Why Are Lesotho’s Factories Closing Despite Tariff Relief? The textile sector accounts for thousands of jobs in Lesotho, especially for garment workers producing apparel for major American retailers like Levi’s, Wrangler, JCPenney, Walmart,...