LUANDA, Angola | 24 June 2025 — African heads of state and institutional leaders have issued a strong call for the United States to transition from an aid-centric engagement model to one grounded in strategic investments and fair trade practices. Speaking at the opening of the U.S.–Africa Business Summit in Angola’s capital, Luanda, several high-level African leaders urged Washington to review punitive tariffs on African exports and unlock new trade and investment opportunities.
The summit brought together more than 2,000 delegates, including government officials, U.S. and African business leaders, investors, development agencies, and civil society stakeholders.
Delivering the keynote address, Angolan President João Lourenço called for a reimagining of U.S.–Africa relations.
“It is time to replace the logic of aid with the logic of investment and trade,” President Lourenço said, encouraging U.S. businesses to expand their interest in African economies beyond oil and mining. He highlighted opportunities in automotive manufacturing, shipbuilding, cement, tourism, and steel production, sectors he said are ripe for growth.
Also speaking at the summit, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf reiterated Africa’s call for equitable partnerships. He emphasized the need to eliminate restrictive tariffs and visa limitations that hamper economic mobility and inclusive growth.
“We’re not seeking aid, but building co-created solutions,” Youssouf said. “This should not just be a summit, but a call to action. Together, let’s walk the pathways to prosperity—with unity, purpose, and Agenda 2063 as our guide.”
Echoing this stance, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, warned that current U.S. tariff structures act as barriers to growth.
“We should review the high tariffs on African countries. What is needed is more trade between Africa and the U.S., not less,” Adesina asserted, urging policymakers to modernize frameworks to reflect the continent’s rising economic significance.
Adesina stressed that promoting fair and inclusive trade would not only serve Africa’s development ambitions but also support U.S. commercial interests on the continent.
Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, highlighted the importance of integration to Africa’s industrial and investment growth.
“The undertaking of the AfCFTA is an ambitious one—it has to be ambitious,” Mene said, noting that the free trade agreement is central to reducing market fragmentation, increasing competitiveness, and building cross-border value chains.
He encouraged U.S. investors to align with AfCFTA priorities, especially in areas such as agro-processing, green manufacturing, logistics, and digital infrastructure.
From the U.S. side, Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs, Troy Fitrell, acknowledged Africa’s growing role in global economic conversations.
“There are business leaders in the U.S. who need to understand the opportunities that lie in doing business with Africa,” Fitrell said. “Our mission going forward will be to find them—and bring them in.”
He added that the State Department is committed to supporting trade facilitation, private capital flows, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The summit’s overarching message was clear: the U.S.–Africa relationship must be driven by mutual benefit, shared value, and a commitment to inclusive growth.
Leaders agreed that with the AfCFTA now operational, Africa is ready for deep, transformative partnerships—not charity. The call to action is urgent: unlock Africa’s trillion-dollar potential by shifting from donor-dependency to catalytic investments.
Source:
African Development Bank – Press Release
