African trade ministers are set to meet on April 14 to discuss the impact of a new U.S. tariff policy introduced by President Donald Trump. The policy places a 10 percent tax on all goods entering the U.S. from over 100 countries, including many in Africa.

The meeting will bring together government officials, economists, trade specialists, and representatives from regional trade blocs. Their goal is to find ways for Africa to protect its economic interests in a world where protectionist policies are on the rise.

Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), spoke to the media from Washington, D.C. He described the U.S. tariff decision as a serious warning for Africa.

According to Mene, this move by the U.S. shows why it’s more important than ever for African countries to speed up efforts to trade more among themselves and rely less on major global economies.

“President of the United States has given us a wake-up call. And the wake-up call is that we must accelerate our own economic self-sufficiency. The ministers of trade will meet on April 14 to deliberate on this matter and exactly how our continent should respond.”

Wamkele Mene’s comments reflect what many African leaders and trade experts are now thinking — that rising global economic nationalism and decisions by powerful countries mean Africa needs to act together and prepare better.

The new U.S. tariff could make African goods more expensive in the American market, making it harder for them to compete.

Many African countries depend heavily on exports like clothes, farm produce, raw materials, and manufactured items. A lot of these goods currently benefit from special trade deals like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows them easier access to the U.S. market.