Razia Khan, head of research, Africa and Middle East, at Standard Chartered, has urged African countries to reassess their trade exposure, strengthen regional value chains, to transform the emerging risks of the U.S. tariff war into opportunities for long-term growth.
“One of the major challenges remains the lack of complementarity among African states, which continues to drive low intra-Africa trade volumes,” Khan said in a keynote address during Standard Chartered Bank’s high-level client webinar themed ‘U.S. Tariff War: Implications for the Nigerian Economy and Business.’
According to him, the U.S tariff announcements are part of broader global economic realignments with significant implications for African economies.
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Dalu Ajene, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, said the goal of the webinar was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current trade dynamics, identify potential risks, and discuss strategies that can help businesses in Nigeria adapt and thrive amidst the changes.
According to him, the webinar was designed to foster strategic dialogue on the global trade environment and provide insights on how Nigerian and African businesses can navigate the evolving macroeconomic dynamics triggered by the recent U.S. tariff policies.
“We believe that through informed dialogue and collaboration, we can better equip ourselves to navigate the evolving landscape and drive sustainable growth for our economy” Ajene said.
According to him, the webinar was the first in a planned series of thought leadership engagements designed to equip clients with relevant insights and tools to navigate changing global and regional economic conditions.
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He also disclosed that the bank remains a leading voice in trade finance across Africa and continues to play a pivotal role in supporting businesses to unlock value through expert insights, innovative digital trade solutions, and strategic partnerships that strengthen Africa’s participation in global trade.
“The U.S. tariff war is not just a challenge; it presents opportunities for Nigeria and Africa, highlighting the need for firms to rethink their supply chain strategies to ensure resilience and continued business growth,” Ibiyemi Okuneye, head of trade, West Africa, transaction banking, Standard Chartered, stated.
The highlight of the webinar was the panel session on the effects of the U.S. tariff policies on Africa and Nigeria, focused on identifying actionable strategies that businesses could adopt towards managing supply chain disruptions while maintaining operational resilience.
