Business Eswatini (BE) recently held a follow-up engagement with the US Embassy’s Allen Hodges, Carly Van Orman, and Dumisani Dlamini.
The meeting underscored BE’s role as a key advocate for its members in navigating global economic shifts while fostering strategic partnerships. Present in the meeting were the BE President – Mvuselelo Fakudze, BE CEO – E.Nathi Dlamini, BE Head of Trade and Commerce – Musa Maseko, and the BE Communications and Marketing team.
A key focus of the discussion was the recent US-imposed 10% minimum reciprocal tariffs on select products, including steel and aluminium. While sugar is not currently exempt, BE emphasized the potential impact on Eswatini’s exports, particularly given the country’s inordinate reliance on the SACU revenue pool.
The BE CEO appealed for increased sugar export quotas, highlighting Eswatini’s unique position and the mutual benefits of sustained trade with the US.
Meanwhile, the BE President noted that, unlike many other countries, the US enjoys a trade surplus with Eswatini, thanks to long-standing partnerships with entities like Coca-Cola, DD Williamson, and others. He noted that imposing tariffs could reduce this surplus, harming both economies.
In response, Hodges clarified that the tariffs are not meant to be punitive but are aimed at revenue generation and to level the imbalances of the international trading landscape. He therefore encouraged patience as the US engages in further dialogue, particularly with affected nations.
The meeting also explored synergies between BE’s Business Women Eswatini (BWE) initiative and US programs such as: Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), Youth Business Accelerator – supporting the next generation of leaders, as well as American Corners – offering resources for skills development in Mbabane, Manzini, and Nhlangano.
BE expressed interest in collaborating on digital economy initiatives and TVET programmes, aligning with government efforts to boost technical skills.
Hodges reaffirmed the US Embassy’s dedication to ongoing dialogue, ensuring BE remains informed on developments that affect Eswatini’s private sector. Important to note was the introduction of the new US Embassy to Eswatini Public Affairs Officer – Carly Van Orman.
This was appreciated by BE as it comes at a time when there is a need for a dedicated source of information within the US Embassy to provide enlightenment on the ongoing US developments.
This engagement highlighted BE’s proactive approach in:
Providing clarity on global economic shifts to help businesses adapt
Advocating for favourable trade terms (e.g., sugar quotas, AGOA utilization, etc)
Facilitating access to US-backed empowerment programs for women and youth