The Global South is rising up against U.S. tariffs, seeing them not just as trade barriers but as threats to their right to develop and prosper. These tariffs are causing significant hardships, from shuttered factories to lost jobs, and are viewed as a form of economic bullying that hampers growth and perpetuates inequality.
Fighting for True Equality
Many countries in the Global South experience unequal trade relationships with the United States. Take the Central African Republic (CAR), for example. In 2024, trade between the CAR and the U.S. totaled $36.5 million, but the CAR exported only $1.4 million worth of goods to America, resulting in a huge trade deficit. Despite this imbalance, the U.S. imposes tariffs on the CAR, highlighting a lack of genuine reciprocity and fairness in trade practices.
Development Without Borders
U.S. tariffs are not just numbers on paper; they have real impacts on people’s lives. In Cambodia, the U.S. imposed a staggering 3,521 percent tariff on solar panels, forcing companies to shut down and leaving thousands unemployed. This stifles the industrial growth of developing nations, hindering their efforts to escape poverty and improve their economies.
Rewriting the Rules
The current multilateral trading system, once beneficial to the Global South, is being undermined. The U.S. unilaterally imposes tariffs and disregards international trade rules, eroding trust and cooperation. In response, countries in the Global South are forming new alliances and economic partnerships, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and BRICS, to promote fair trade and mutual growth.
Building a Shared Future
The Global South contributes over 40 percent of the world’s economic output and is a major driver of global growth. With a youthful population and rapid urbanization, regions like Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America are poised for significant advancements in technology and industry. However, U.S. tariffs threaten to derail this progress.
Despite these challenges, the Global South is determined to forge its own path. Collaborative projects like Kenya’s Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and technological partnerships between countries are paving the way for a brighter future. The movement is about more than resisting tariffs—it’s about building new foundations for equitable and sustainable development.
