Lesotho Textile Workers Protest US Tariffs
Hundreds of textile workers took to the streets of Maseru’s city centre on Friday, demanding urgent relief from crippling US tariffs that have triggered widespread layoffs in Lesotho’s vital garment industry. The peaceful march, organised by six major trade unions, highlighted the dire economic fallout from the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration earlier this year. Workers carried flags and chanted slogans, calling for a reduction in duties and the immediate renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which expired at the end of September 2025. This protest comes as Lesotho grapples with soaring unemployment, factory closures, and a declared state of disaster, underscoring the human cost of international trade tensions on one of Africa’s smallest economies.
The March in Maseru: Voices from the Ground
Around 400 demonstrators gathered in Maseru, the capital of the landlocked kingdom surrounded by South Africa, to voice their frustrations. The event saw workers from the textile sector – Lesotho’s largest employer – handing petitions to the ministers of trade and labour, as well as the prime minister’s office. Union leaders like Sam Mokhele, head of the National Clothing Textile and Allied Workers Union, led the charge, emphasising the need for action to save livelihoods.
One worker, 53-year-old Mamakalo Mohapi, shared her personal story during the march: “Factories are closing because of the US-imposed tariffs, and without AGOA… things are getting worse. I started working in the textile industry in February 2000. I don’t want to lose my job, I am not yet ready to retire and I don’t want to be supported by my children.” Her words echo the fears of thousands facing uncertainty in an industry that employs mostly women and supports entire families.
The protest remained orderly, but it reflects growing desperation in a country where youth unemployment stands at 38 percent, and overall joblessness has spiked due to the trade disruptions.
Background on US Tariffs and the Loss of AGOA Benefits
The Trump administration hit Lesotho with a 50 percent tariff in April 2025 – the highest levied on any nation – severely impacting its textile exports to the US. This was later reduced to 15 percent in July 2025, but the damage was already done. Previously, Lesotho enjoyed duty-free access under AGOA, a 25-year-old US-Africa trade pact that allowed billions in exports like clothing and cars without tariffs.
AGOA’s expiration at the end of September 2025 has compounded the crisis, leaving Lesotho without preferential market access. The US has hinted at a possible one-year extension, with discussions ongoing as of early October 2025, but no formal announcement has been made. This uncertainty has led to a sharp drop in orders from American brands, forcing factories to scale back or shut down.
Lesotho’s trade minister has warned that without lower tariffs and AGOA renewal, up to 40,000 jobs could be lost – a devastating blow for a nation of 2.3 million people where textiles account for over 80 percent of exports to the US.
Economic Devastation: Factories Close and Unemployment Soars
The tariffs have delivered a shock to Lesotho’s economy, often called the “denim capital” of Africa due to its production for global brands like Levi’s and Gap. The sector employs around 40,000 to 50,000 workers, mostly women, and contributes significantly to GDP through foreign exchange.
Since the tariffs kicked in, at least 12,000 garment workers have been laid off or put on unpaid leave, with projections suggesting numbers could climb higher. In July 2025, the government declared a “state of disaster” over the unemployment surge, highlighting how the industry – built on AGOA preferences – is now crumbling. Factories have seen work orders dry up, leading to closures and reduced operations.
Beyond jobs, the ripple effects hit hard: families lose income, local businesses suffer, and poverty deepens in a country already facing high inequality. Women, who make up the bulk of the workforce, bear the brunt, often supporting households single-handedly.
Union Demands: Lower Tariffs and AGOA Renewal
Trade unions are pushing for tariffs to drop to 10 percent to regain competitiveness against neighbours like Eswatini and Kenya, which face lower duties. “Lesotho must engage the US administration to reduce the tariffs to 10 percent,” Mokhele urged during the protest.
They also demand immediate negotiations for AGOA’s renewal, seeing it as essential to revive exports. The petition handed over calls on the government to act fast, warning that without intervention, the textile sector – a cornerstone of Lesotho’s economy – could collapse entirely.
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