Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that he would suspend tariffs on goods imported from the United States in an attempt to establish a “positive relationship” with President Donald Trump’s administration.

The move comes days after Trump imposed 18% tariffs on Zimbabwe’s exports to the United States.

“This measure aims to promote the expansion of U.S. imports in the Zimbabwe market, while also promoting the growth of Zimbabwe’s destined to be the United States,” he said on X.

Zimbabwe adopted a controversial land policy about 25 years ago and has been engaged in diplomatic relations with the United States due to its poor human rights record.

Trade between the two countries is only $111.6 million in 2024 U.S. government data shows.

Follow Live Streaming: Global Leaders Try to Mitigate Tariff Impact

U.S. exports were worth $43.8 million (£34 million), exported to Zimbabwe in 2024, up 10.6% from the previous year, while imports fell 41% to $67.8 million.

Zimbabwean political analyst Tendai Mbanje told AFP the decision would not bring huge economic benefits to Zimbabwe and would only benefit the United States.

Hopewell Chin’ono, a well-known Zimbabwean journalist and government critic, said the president appears to be trying to “plead” the Trump administration.

He added on X.

The United States imposed sanctions on the Zimbabwe government for the first time after the United States proposed a land reform plan in 2000, resulting in white-owned farms and due to repressive measures against the opposition.

The Biden administration in the United States lifted sanctions in 2024, replacing them with targeted sanctions against 11 people, including Mnangagwa, with a “democratic retreat, human rights violations and government corruption.”

Mnangagwa had previously denied the allegations, saying the sanctions were “illegal and reasonable”.

He announced his decision to abandon tariffs on U.S. imports, saying Zimbabwe’s focus is “to establish friendly relations with all countries and to establish confrontational relations with no one”.

He added: “This action underlines our commitment to a fair trade framework and a framework for enhanced bilateral cooperation.”

Mnangagwa is currently the chairman of the regional group, Indiana State University in Africa, and should try to respond to the United States in a common way, rather than acting unilaterally, Chin’Ono said.

He added: “When countries face global economic changes, coordinated responses provide better leverage and stability.”

Lesotho is another southern African country – suffering 50% tariffs, the highest on Trump’s list released on Wednesday.

Its administration said it would send a delegation to the United States to negotiate a new agreement and would look for a new market for its goods.