The landlocked southern African country of Lesotho is heavily dependent on the export of textiles and diamonds to the United States, but now that it has been hit with a 50% tariff on all goods imported into the US, there is concern over what might happen to the developing economy.

In an interview with DW, Lesotho’s minister for trade, industry and business development, Mokhethi Shelile, said the 50% rate imposed by the US had not been arrived at based on “facts on the ground.”

He also told DW that the tariffs would have a major impact on Lesotho’s economy, saying: “We have in total about 11 factories that are supplying the American market … And those companies in total, they employ more than 12,000 people … which represent about 42% of their total employment in the textile industry in this country.”

https://p.dw.com/p/4sgou

Thank you for joining us as we bring you the latest reporting on the fallout following US President Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs.

The new levies on imports into the world’s biggest economy have already sent shockwaves, hitting global stock markets, including in the US itself.

Responses to the tariffs have included announcements of counter-tariffs as well as attempts to seek leniency from the White House.

https://p.dw.com/p/4sgTY