In brief
The introduction of new tariffs by the U.S. on imports from African nations is posing serious challenges for local chocolatiers like Dana Mroueh from Ivory Coast, who aim to expand into the American chocolate market.
Dana Mroueh, a small business owner and the founder of Mon Choco in Ivory Coast, found herself at a crossroads just as she was about to launch her organic chocolate bars in the U.S. markets of New York and Washington. The announcement of new tariffs on all U.S. imports by the Trump administration last week has thrown her plans into disarray.As the world’s largest cocoa producer, Ivory Coast has been a vital source of cocoa beans, with the U.S. being the biggest consumer of chocolate, primarily sourcing it from Canada and Mexico. Mroueh, along with other chocolatiers from West Africa, is part of an emerging movement determined to create local wealth by converting raw cocoa into high-quality chocolate products. “We were eagerly anticipating our export launch in the upcoming weeks,” she stated. However, the newly imposed 21% tariff on her offerings, including unique flavors like mango, ginger, and coffee, threatens to severely impair her business trajectory.The tariffs are not localized to the chocolate sector. Other industries are also bracing for the impact; for instance, car manufacturers in South Africa and garment producers in Madagascar are facing similar levies. Particularly, Lesotho, which supplies denim for jeans, is set to experience some of the steepest tariffs, reaching up to 50%. Mroueh acknowledged the challenging times ahead, saying, “We’re definitely going to face some issues.”The new trade restrictions could hinder the economic aspirations of several African nations that previously viewed the U.S. as a reliable outlet for their exports. With the costs of doing business soaring, the dream of transforming Africa’s rich cocoa resources into profitable chocolate products may remain just that—a dream.
