Africa-Press – Botswana. Government is intent on addressing challenges posed by the 37 per cent reciprocal tariff imposed on Botswana by the United States.
The US global tariffs have since been affecting international trade upon coming into effect on April 9.
Speaking during diamond stakeholders meeting held in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs in Gaborone yesterday, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo said the tariff issue was important as diamonds were the country’s leading export. “Our silence does not mean we are not acting. I am here to give you assurance that government is taking the matter seriously.” Ms Kenewendo said challenges emanating from the imposed tariffs were not only affecting direct export channels, but also other markets the country was doing business with, such as India, Israel, Dubai, Antwerp and many others.
She said the concerned markets were being assessed to establish how the tariff had affected them and how they may be affecting the country’s efforts of beneficiation.
“We are focused on this issue and engaging with the White House. President Advocate Duma Boko is actively working with a team to ensure that we have a proper strategy in attending to the matter and that the impact emanating from it will be mitigated accordingly. We intend to communicate with the industry regarding such efforts and we hope that in the meantime the diamond industry will remain steadfast, as it has shown in the past when exposed to various challenges,” said the minister. She assured investors in the industry that government would persist in their engagement and keep them informed about the President Boko’s ongoing efforts.
She said since coming into effect the tariff was hitting hard on the country’s economy.
On other issues ,Ms Kenewendo said the meeting of the diamond industry players and Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs was a follow-up to the January stakeholder engagement, where it was proposed that the Diamond Hub should work toward becoming a true one stop shop and service diverse needs raised by players in the industry.
She said the labour ministry wanted to facilitate businesses in the diamond sector by ensuring their compliance with labour industry laws and regulations including those pertaining to visa applications, as well as work and resident permits.
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