AGOA is a non-reciprocal trade arrangement aimed at supporting development in African countries through preferential access to US markets
The Namibian government has expressed concern over newly imposed US tariffs, warning that the move has caused “turbulence in global trade” and could unfairly impact the country’s exports.
“The Government of the Republic of Namibia has taken note of the US government’s recent reciprocal tariff imposed on African countries, which includes 21 percent tariffs on Namibia,” the Ministry of International Relations and Trade said in a statement.
“The move by the U.S. administration has created turbulence in global trade, which undermines the commitment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA),” the ministry said. “Unfortunately, this measure could result in unfair market conditions for Namibian products to compete fairly within the U.S. market.” AGOA is a non-reciprocal trade arrangement aimed at supporting development in African countries through preferential access to US markets.
In response to the US tariffs, the ministry clarified that the duties are not applied under the Most Favored Nation principle, but rather are calculated based on the US trade deficit with each country relative to the total value of imports from all trading partners.
To assess the full impact of the tariffs, the ministry said it would engage relevant stakeholders to determine the extent of the effects, adding that various strategies are under consideration to mitigate the impact, though details could not be disclosed at this stage.
The ministry further warned that the newly imposed tariffs could reduce the competitiveness of Namibian beef and fish products in the US market, potentially lowering demand and sales volumes due to price increases driven by the additional duties.
Meanwhile, Bezant Resources, a mining company, has received approval for an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Namibia for its Hope & Gorob copper-gold project. The ECC, a critical requirement for activating the previously approved mining license, signifies a key advancement for the project’s development.
The approval, announced on the Ministry’s official website, is expected to be formally confirmed in writing to the company, which will allow the official issuing of the mining license by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The ECC, numbered 240130002744, is mandated under Section 32 of the Environmental Management Act, 2007.
Colin Bird, Executive Chairman of Bezant, stated, “The approval of the ECC is an important milestone in the development of the Hope & Gorob Project. We look forward to providing further updates as we move towards project development.”
The process leading to this approval began with Bezant’s announcement on October 16, 2024, that it had received a Notification of Preparedness to Grant a Mining Licence (No. 246) for the project. Following this, on November 15, 2024, the company confirmed its acceptance of the Terms and Conditions attached to the Mining Licence. The Ministry of Mines and Energy acknowledged the company’s acceptance on October 25, 2024, and outlined the requirement for an ECC before the physical Mining Licence could be issued.
The ECC approval follows the government’s endorsement of the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) and the Environmental Management Plan for the project. This plan serves as a guide for operating methods and standards aimed at ensuring environmental protection throughout the project’s lifespan.
With the ECC now approved, Bezant Resources is set to proceed with finalizing financing and beginning mine construction, adhering to the project management and ownership conditions stipulated by the authorities.This development marks a significant step for Bezant Resources as it progresses toward the commencement of its mining operations in Namibia. The information for this article is based on a press release statement.
