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Eswatini (Swaziland)

US Revised Tariffs (%)

10

Ease of doing business

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Revised Tariff %
Original Tariff %
Country Tariff Rate %
Share of US Imports % (1 implies <1%)
10
10
3
1
Exports (in USD Bill.) 2024
Imports (in USD Bill.) 2024
Balance (in USD Bill.) 2024
0.05
0.02
0.02

Implications

Here is an updated summary of the US trade status with Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), reflecting the latest developments in tariffs and trade preference programs as of October 2025.

Area

Status (October 2025)

Key Details & Impact on Companies

US Tariffs on Eswatini Exports

10% (Implemented)

Reciprocal Tariff: Eswatini goods are subject to the 10% "reciprocal external tariff" applied to most non-exempt countries. This rate is significantly lower than the higher tariffs (e.g., 30%) imposed on some neighboring nations like South Africa.

Trade Agreements: AGOA

Expired (September 30, 2025)

African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA): The program, which provided duty-free access to the US market for many products, expired on September 30, 2025, as Congress was unable to reauthorize it.

Trade Status

Loss of Duty-Free Access, but Competitive Tariff

Eswatini has lost its preferential duty-free access under AGOA. However, the resulting 10% tariff is touted by the Eswatini government as the lowest in the region, positioning the country as a more competitive manufacturing base for US-bound exports compared to its neighbors facing higher rates.

Company Impact: Key Sectors

Textiles/Apparel & Agro-Processing

Textiles & Apparel: This sector, which relied heavily on AGOA for its export value, now faces the 10% tariff. Government officials believe the new competitive rate (compared to neighbors) will help safeguard existing jobs and attract new investors seeking a lower tariff environment.

Company Impact: Indirect/Regional

Negative Indirect Effects

Eswatini's economy is highly linked to South Africa. The 30% US tariff on South African goods is expected to reduce South Africa's demand for raw materials and intermediate goods from Eswatini, creating an indirect negative "domino effect" on Eswatini's manufacturing and fiscal health.



Detailed Notes on Eswatini's Position


  • Lowest Regional Tariff: A key takeaway is that the 10% reciprocal tariff rate on Eswatini is being presented by the government as a strategic advantage, as other countries in the region, like South Africa, are facing much higher US tariffs (e.g., 30%).

  • Post-AGOA Strategy: Despite the expiration of AGOA, the Eswatini government is attempting to leverage the low 10% tariff to make the country an attractive hub for foreign investors who want to export to the US, particularly in light of higher tariff rates in other Southern African nations.

  • Vulnerable Sectors: Industries like textiles, sugar, and processed foods, which previously benefited from AGOA's duty-free status, are now subject to the 10% tariff. This will erode their competitiveness but is hoped to be offset by regional tariff differences.

US Revised Tariffs

Country Tariffs

Balance of Trade

Commercial Guide

Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in countries, prepared by U.S. Embassies worldwide, Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals

Tariff Rate for US

World Bank staff estimates using the World Integrated Trade Solution system, based on tariff data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's Trade Analysis and Information System ( TRAINS ) database and global imports data from the United Nations Statistics Division's Comtrade database.

US Imports Guide 

United States Imports from Countries during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United States Imports from Countries- data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on April of 2025.

Trading Economics - Imports

Investing in USA

theboardiQ Economic Relevance Score, ranks States of USA based on 11 parameters

Sources : ForbesUSDA Economic Research | TCGen Total Innovation Rank Index | Best States for Manufacturing | World Population Review | Tax Foundation | US News | BEA Data | Wikipedia International Trade Administration

theboardiQ's Economic Relevance Score provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of a nation's economic vitality and global significance. This score is meticulously calculated using 11 key parameters, each reflecting a critical facet of economic performance. It analyzes the representation of Fortune 500 companies within a nation, a strong indicator of its business environment and market size. The balance of trade surplus or deficit reveals the nation's international competitiveness and export strength. It incorporates Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a fundamental measure of overall economic output, and examine the health of key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. The score also accounts for innovation, gauging a nation's ability to drive future growth through technological advancements. Crucial labor market indicators such as employment rates are considered, alongside fiscal policies reflected in tax rates. To capture the lived experience of citizens, it assesses cost of living and disposable income, providing insight into purchasing power and economic well-being. Finally, education levels are integrated, recognizing their pivotal role in fostering a skilled workforce and driving long-term economic development. By synthesizing these 11 parameters, theboardiQ's Economic Relevance Score delivers a nuanced and holistic view of a nation's economic standing, enabling informed strategic decisions. The Top 5 States in the assessment are Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Washington. Texas does consistently well across most of the 11 variables especially in the areas of GDP, F500 representation in the State, Balance of Trade where it ranks 2nd nationally. North Carolina scores as the highest-ranking state nationally in manufacturing and performs consistently across the other variables. Virginia does well in disposable income where it ranks 3rd nationally. It also scores high in the variables of manufacturing and employment Florida holds the 4th ranking nationally for GDP and Tax Washington State scores the top spot for disposable income nationally, 2nd for education and 3rd for innovation. Colorado, with an overall rank of 7 scores the top spot for Education (schools and higher education). Nebraska, that ranked 10th overall, did well in Agriculture where it is ranked 3rd nationally as well as Trade Balance where it ranked 5th. Illinois, though ranked 20th overall did well nationally in F500 representation, GDP, Agriculture, and Disposable Income. Pennsylvania comes in at 21 overall doing well nationally in GDP (6th); Manufacturing (8th) and F500 representation (8th) New York scores 23rd overall with a 2 ranking in Disposable Income nationally, as well as 3rd in both F500 representation and GDP. California comes in at 29th overall and has the top spot ranking in a whopping 4 variables nationally – GDP, Innovation, Agriculture and F500 representation. However, performance in the areas of Trade Balance, Cost of Living, Tax, Manufacturing and Employment resulted in the overall ranking dipping. Wyoming at 30th overall scores the top spot nationally in the area of Tax Massachusetts at 31 overall does well in innovation where it is ranked 2nd nationally Arkansas at 36 and Alabama at 39, do well in overall Cost of Living where they are ranked 2nd and 3rd nationally, respectively. Louisiana ranked 44th overall is ranked 1st in Trade Balance nationally.

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