美国关税政策严重冲击莱索托纺织业

Group 1 - The textile industry in Lesotho, a key sector for the economy, is facing severe challenges due to the U.S. tariff policy, impacting employment and social stability [1] - Before the tariff imposition, textile companies in Lesotho produced approximately 500,000 garments monthly, primarily for export to the U.S. and South Africa, employing around 2,000 local workers with an annual output value of about $6 million [1] - Following the increase in tariffs and the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, orders plummeted to about 100,000 garments per month, leading to layoffs of over 1,000 workers and affecting thousands of families [1] Group 2 - Despite the U.S. reducing the initial tariff rate from 50% to 15%, the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act and additional taxes have resulted in a comprehensive tax rate exceeding 40% for some textile products, eroding price competitiveness in the U.S. market [2] - Some factories in Lesotho have adopted a "short work" model, where 1,000 workers are employed for two weeks while another 1,000 work the following two weeks, effectively halving their income and highlighting the vulnerability of the economy reliant on a single export product [2]