Officials and workers fear this may be a sign of what's to come for other factories in Lesotho, where poverty is widespread and upwards of 30,000 people are employed in the textile industry.

Maseru

Donald Trump has signed an order to impose tariffs imports into the U.S. from countries including China, Mexico and Canada.

Global Tariffs

A textile factory in Lesotho, previously producing Trump-branded golf shirts, is facing closure following a significant drop in orders after the United States imposed a 50% tariff on imports from Lesotho. The factory completed its last orders during a temporary tariff suspension but has since sent all employees home due to a lack of new business.

The tariffs were introduced by the US government citing trade imbalances, a justification that has been questioned by Lesotho officials, who argue that such measures harm their small economy. Textile manufacturing is a major industry in Lesotho, employing over 30,000 workers, and the new tariffs threaten the livelihoods of many in the sector.

Lesotho factory that made Trump shirts faces shutdown after tariffs

As Trump's tariff deadline looms, one of his own clothing manufacturers in Lesotho is hit hard. The factory, which used to produce Trump-branded golf shirts, has seen orders drop after the president imposed a 50% tariff on Lesotho in April. They put the wrong tag on the wrong spot. As soon as the tariffs were announced, we started having some problems with our buyers. We were like on and off, there was no proper, let's say. We didn't know where we were standing. So as soon as the three-month suspension came, that's when we decided that let's try to finish the work as soon as possible before the new tariffs are introduced. That's what we were told. And the work, luckily we finished, well, unfortunately we finished way before time and that is why now we don't have any work. When Trump announced a month-long tariff pause, the factory rushed to deliver pre-existing orders. But with no new orders coming in, all employees were sent home. I'm the breadwinner in my family. I have two children that are currently in school. One is in preschool and another is in primary school, doing grade seven. Life is difficult. It has not been easy ever since I was laid off work. Benjamin is also struggling. He's in between peace jobs. Trump said that he imposed the tariffs in April because of a trade imbalance between the U.S. and Lesotho, but that explanation baffles the government of the small African nation. Lesotho is a very small economy. The trade deficit that exists between Lesotho and the U.S. It's a natural trade deficit that can happen when you have this type of disparities between two economies. It cannot be bridged and certainly cannot be bridged by imposing tariffs because the same tariffs, they are inevitably going to make it difficult for us to get foreign exchange that we can use to buy more stuff from the U.S. Known as the denim capital of Africa, textile manufacturing is the largest private industry in Lesotho, employing more than 30,000 workers. Trump is set to announce new tariff rates for Lesotho and many other trading partners when the deadline for negotiations ends on Friday.

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Rio de Janeiro

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Ottawa

Middle East Conflict

Canada to recognize Palestinian state in September if conditions met

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Birmingham

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Jerusalem

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London

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Kyiv

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Zaporizhzhia

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Lesotho factory that made Trump shirts faces shutdown after tariffs

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Global Tariffs