Lesotho’s denim industry unravels as Trump’s tariffs deadline looms

The African nation of Lesotho – the small, mountainous kingdom surrounded entirely by South Africa – once punched above its weight as the “denim capital of Africa.” But that reputation is rapidly unraveling. In April, US President Donald Trump imposed a shocking 50 percent tariff on Lesotho’s exports, sending its textile factories into freefall. Although the tariffs have since been paused, the resulting uncertainty continues to devastate the industry.