Cote d'Ivoire to explore new markets following US tariffs

ABIDJAN - Cote d'Ivoire will explore new markets following the imposition by the US government of new tariffs on its products exported to the United States, said government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly on Wednesday.

"In terms of reaction, initially, we will look for new markets that we can find for our products," Coulibaly said after a cabinet meeting in Abidjan.

New tariffs announced on April 2 by US President Donald Trump on countries and regions around the world, including about 50 African countries, with a minimum rate of 10 percent, were set to take effect on April 5.

Cote d'Ivoire faces a 21 percent tariff on its products destined for the United States.

The country exports cocoa, of which it is the world's leading producer, rubber, and cashews to the United States.

"We are affected because we have about 4 percent of our trade exchanges with the United States," Coulibaly acknowledged, adding, however, that "overall, we are not particularly worried because the funding we received from the US government continues."

In any case, Cote d'Ivoire is committed to "all means" to continue various investments as "several partners and techniques are supporting us, and most investments are made with self-financing from the state budget," he said.