A recent announcement of tariffs has put a damper on the hopes of African chocolatiers seeking to export their products to the U.S.
U.S. Tariffs Challenge Emerging African Chocolatiers
U.S. Tariffs Challenge Emerging African Chocolatiers
New levies threaten the potential of Ivorian chocolate entrepreneurs in the American market.
Dana Mroueh, a rising entrepreneur from Ivory Coast, had been on the verge of entering the American chocolate market with her brand, Mon Choco, when new tariffs were announced by the U.S. government last week. The sudden imposition of these tariffs, which now stands at 21 percent for her products, threatens to derail her plans for expansion into stores across New York and Washington.
Ivory Coast is recognized as the globe’s leading cocoa producer while America ranks as its largest chocolate consumer. However, much of the chocolate consumed in the U.S. is sourced from Canada and Mexico. Mroueh’s aspirations to cultivate a market for African chocolate in the U.S. align with a broader movement among West African chocolatiers aspiring to add value to their raw cocoa beans by producing artisan chocolate. "We were prepared to export within weeks," Mroueh expressed in disappointment, noting that the tariffs add significant obstacles to her business.
The impact of the tariffs extends beyond just chocolate, affecting other products such as automotive parts from South Africa and apparel from Madagascar, with Lesotho, known for its denim exports, facing alarming levies of up to 50 percent. This new economic landscape is likely to challenge the vitality of many African economies that have relied on access to the U.S. market. Mroueh and her counterparts remain hopeful yet apprehensive about the future of their entrepreneurial efforts under these circumstances.
Ivory Coast is recognized as the globe’s leading cocoa producer while America ranks as its largest chocolate consumer. However, much of the chocolate consumed in the U.S. is sourced from Canada and Mexico. Mroueh’s aspirations to cultivate a market for African chocolate in the U.S. align with a broader movement among West African chocolatiers aspiring to add value to their raw cocoa beans by producing artisan chocolate. "We were prepared to export within weeks," Mroueh expressed in disappointment, noting that the tariffs add significant obstacles to her business.
The impact of the tariffs extends beyond just chocolate, affecting other products such as automotive parts from South Africa and apparel from Madagascar, with Lesotho, known for its denim exports, facing alarming levies of up to 50 percent. This new economic landscape is likely to challenge the vitality of many African economies that have relied on access to the U.S. market. Mroueh and her counterparts remain hopeful yet apprehensive about the future of their entrepreneurial efforts under these circumstances.
