The Southern African Development Community (SADC) says the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. nullify the benefits member states had under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
SADC is the latest regional community to react to the tariff hikes by U.S. President Donald Trump.
SADC member states, except Seychelles and Zimbabwe, currently enjoy duty-free access to the U.S. market under that country's African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA.
Tariff exemptions under AGOA are due to expire by the end of September this year.
SADC announced that it would carry out a detailed assessment of the impact of the U.S. measures on trade with the region.
The assessment is expected to be reviewed by relevant ministers during the forthcoming meetings of the Committee of Ministers of Trade and the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Integration in June 2025.
These will then recommend to the Council of Ministers meeting in August 2025 for decisions to be taken as a collective response by SADC member states.
Lesotho has been hit with the highest reciprocal tariff of 50 percent, followed by the 47 percent applied to imports from Madagascar and 40 percent from Mauritius.
The rest of the affected SADC member states have been slapped with tariffs below 40 percent.
The Trump administration has announced a list of exempted products.
However, products such as textiles and clothing, which are among those exported to the U.S. by SADC countries, are not on the exemption list.
Individual countries in the region have called for dialogue and other responses with the U.S. government, including Lesotho, which sent a delegation to Washington for talks.
South Africa says it will not retaliate against the 33 percent, calling for a strategic approach, while Namibia, slapped with 21 percent, wants a balanced response through the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
Namibia and its neighbor, South Africa, charge 42 percent and 60 percent tariffs, respectively, on imports from the U.S.
Zimbabwe has since announced that it will suspend 35 percent tariffs on goods it imports from the U.S., though it had been hit with an 18 percent tariff hike.
Zimbabwe says the move to suspend the tariffs is intended to build a positive relationship with the U.S., with President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressing hope that the Trump administration will lift sanctions imposed on the country in the long run.
SADC has reiterated its adherence to multilateral trade rules and fair competition administered as prescribed by the World Trade Organization.