Nigeria, Aug. 8 -- It is hard to discern a continental pattern in United States (US) President Donald Trump's new 'reciprocal' import tariffs imposed on African countries last week. It is also difficult to discern whether a unified response by Africa is possible or desirable.

Thirty-two of Africa's 54 nations got the global minimum rate of 10 per cent, 18 countries got 15 per cent, Tunisia got 25 per cent and South Africa, Algeria and Libya got 30 per cent.

Trump's new tariff rates presented on 31 July corrected some of the grosser anomalies in his April announcement. Notably, Lesotho's astronomical tariff of 50 per cent was reduced to 15 per cent. But some, like South Africa's rate, stayed the same despite vigorous government lobbying ...