Africa seizing historic development opportunity

The year 2018 was marked by tremendous economic and political turbulence around the world. Yet, for future historians, it may well be the year when Africa started to claim its intellectual and economic policy independence.

The unlikely trigger for what could turn out to be a continent-wide strategic shift was Rwanda's decision to increase tariffs on imported secondhand clothes and footwear in support of its domestic garment industry. This provoked an immediate hostile response from the United States, which suspended duty-free status for Rwandan textile exports under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the US' flagship trade legislation for the continent.

For a small, landlocked African country that relies heavily on trade, this was a big blow. But the fact that Rwanda held its ground confirmed that times have changed. If Rwanda is willing to risk preferential access to the US market in order to develop its domestic garment industry, then it must be confident of finding alternative markets for its exports.