African economies are under threat from the new U.S. tariff war, according to economist Leslie Dwight Mensah of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The impact will vary based on the scale of trade relationships with the United States, potentially eliminating some export trade.

• Some African economies face duties of up to 50 percent on goods to the U.S., including Lesotho (50 percent), Madagascar (47 percent), Mauritius (40 percent), and Botswana (37 percent).
• Leslie Dwight Mensah, economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
• New tariffs mean many African economies will see positive tariffs on most exports compared to previous zero tariffs.

US President Donald Trump's new tariffs, or extra taxes on imported goods, despite some negotiations, threaten to increase prices for American consumers. While some major trading partners have seen tariff rates reduced, other countries like Canada face significant increases, potentially impacting the cost of various products.

• Tariffs could make cars, beer, wine and spirits, energy and fuel, houses, and avocados more expensive for American consumers.
• The EU’s agreement cut the threatened 30% tariff in half, while Canada could see tariffs rise to 35% on August 1.
• Many cars from US brands are assembled outside the country, making them also subject to the 25% levy.
• The US is a major market for European alcohol exports, with €9 billion (£7.8 billion) sold annually.
• The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has expressed "serious concerns" that tariffs on lumber will increase housing costs.
• Nearly 90% of avocados consumed in the US come from Mexico, making them vulnerable to increased costs.

U.S. budget airlines, including Spirit and Southwest, are taking drastic measures such as pilot layoffs, flight reductions, and business model changes to survive amidst rising costs and shrinking markets.

• Spirit Airlines announced the furlough of 270 pilots, with another 140 pilots downgraded, starting October 1, in response to financial restructuring after its November 2024 bankruptcy filing.
• Southwest Airlines is abandoning its five-decade-long open seating policy for flights booked beyond January 27, 2026, and cutting 15 percent of its staff (approximately 1,750 people) due to falling demand and recent earnings shortfalls of over 11 percent.
• Facing sluggish demand for low-cost flights, carriers like Southwest are implementing new charges, such as bag fees and basic economy products, and are exploring opportunities in premium travel, recognizing that luxury passengers offer a more reliable revenue source.