The country worst hit by the sweeping tariffs announced by Donald Trump on Wednesday evening was one of Africa's smallest nations. Lesotho, a beautiful landlocked country on the African continent, was slapped with a 50% reciprocal tariff, it emerged during the "Liberation Day" speech being delivered by the US President in the White House's Rose Garden.

French territory Saint Pierre and Miquelon also received the same rate. In comparison, the UK was slapped with a 10% reciprocal tariff charge. The new measures introduced a baseline 10% tariff on all goods entering the United States. But countries the Trump administration described as the "worst offenders" will see far steeper rates. Among those hit hardest are Vietnam (46%), Cambodia (49%) and Lesotho, despite long-standing ties with the US through favourable trade programmes.

According to the BBC, Lesotho was also “shocked” by recent comments made by Trump, who last month claimed “nobody has ever heard of” the country.

He made the remark during a speech to Congress in March, while criticising $8 million in US funding for LGBTQ+ projects in Lesotho.

Lesotho’s Foreign Minister Lejone Mpotjoane called the comment “shocking,” adding: “To my surprise, the country that nobody has heard of is the country where the US has a permanent mission.”

The country is one of the top beneficiaries of the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants some African nations easier access to US markets.

In 2024, goods worth $240 million were traded between the US and Lesotho - mostly textiles and clothing, according to US figures.

Lesotho’s foreign ministry told the BBC that relations with the US remain “warm and cordial,” despite the sudden tariff hike and the suspension of key funding programmes.

The Trump administration has already paused contributions to PEPFAR, a major US initiative providing HIV and TB support, throwing local health services into uncertainty.

Trump defended the tariffs as a “declaration of economic independence,” telling supporters: “Today we are standing up for the American worker and finally putting America first.”