US President Donald Trump’s meeting with African leaders shows a sense of urgency in competing for scarce resources with China, which recently lifted tariffs on imports from the continent.The president told his guests on Wednesday that the US was “shifting from aid to trade” to deepen economic ties,

The White House hosted an “African leaders” summit of sorts this week. But only five countries from the continent of more than 50 nations were welcome to join.

The upshot is a paradox. Under Mr Trump, America will do a lot less in Africa than it has done for decades. But African leaders will get more chances to have the ear of the American president.

President Donald Trump meets with leaders from five African nations on Wednesday as the U.S. leader ramps up a trade war that threatens developing nations that depend on trade with the world's largest economy.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has opposed what he calls the "unilateral" higher trade tariffs imposed on his country by the US. US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would subject imports from South Africa to a new 30% tariff from 1 August.

Trump sent a letter to Ramaphosa on Monday, July 7, informing him that BRICS nation South Africa would face a 30 percent reciprocal tariff from August 1, 2025, to reflect the trade barriers he said the U.S. faces. Trump sent similar letters to 13 other countries.

President Donald Trump told leaders from five African nations on Wednesday that he was shifting the U.S. approach to the continent from aid to trade and that the United States is a better partner for Africa than China.

Although few details are known, these initiatives in Africa mark an expansion in US efforts to deport people to countries other than their own.

President Bola Tinubu has revealed that one of the reasons for Trump’s recent actions against Nigeria is the country's refusal to accept Venezuelan prisoners.