@realDonaldTrump – Ethiopian Business Review

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Ethiopia has become the second African country to hold an official diplomatic meeting with U.S. President Donald J. Trump since the start of his second administration, following in the footsteps of South Africa, whose president met with Trump in May.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting was described as a “formal diplomatic welcome”, reaffirming the long-standing bilateral ties between Ethiopia and the United States. “The meeting marks the beginning of many future discussions,” the Ministry noted, underscoring the “limitless” potential for strengthened cooperation in peace, security, and economic development.

Ambassador Benalf, who served previously as Ethiopia’s Minister of Peace, was appointed as Special Envoy and Full-Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the United States in November 2024.

The meeting comes on the heels of a Washington Post report indicating that Ethiopia is among 36 countries under review for new U.S. travel restrictions. Citing an internal memo signed by Secretary Rubio, the report said countries have been given a 60-day window to meet specific benchmarks or risk facing partial or full travel bans.

Concerns outlined in the memo include visa overstays, unreliable identity documentation, and the absence of a “competent or cooperative” central authority. Ethiopia was listed alongside 24 other African nations, prompting criticism that the proposed restrictions could disproportionately affect the continent.

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President Donald Trump has openly dismissed the idea of reviving America’s textile industry, despite the recent tariff policies that shook global trade.

“I’m not looking to make T-shirts, to be honest. I’m not looking to make socks… We are looking to do chips and computers and lots of other things, and tanks and ships,” Trump told reporters on May 25 before boarding Air Force One, as quoted by USA Today.

The remarks, paired with his agreement that the U.S. doesn’t need a “booming textile industry,” were met with sharp criticism from domestic producers. But they have also caught the attention of international observers who see a strategic opening for emerging manufacturing hubs.

Ethiopian-American economist Zemedeneh Nigatu framed Trump’s comments as a potential advantage for Ethiopia, where textile and apparel manufacturing remains a core part of the country’s industrial growth strategy.

“Emerging economies like Ethiopia, which have competitive and comparative advantages, can produce labor-intensive products like clothing at very competitive prices and still deliver high quality to American consumers,” he shared on social media.

With Ethiopia’s industrial growth accelerating from 4.8% in 2022 to 8.4% in 2024, and projections pointing to 12% by the end of the fiscal year, the country is positioning itself as a low-cost, high-capacity producer. Programs like Made in Ethiopia are aligning policy and investment to replace imports and boost exports.

Zemedeneh also called on U.S. entities—including private equity firms and development institutions like USDFC—to co-invest in African manufacturing, a move that could build resilient supply chains and offer American consumers alternatives to Asian production.

Local economists are also calling for structural reforms in Ethiopia’s textile value chain, especially in the use of abundant domestic raw materials like cotton. However, they stress that peace and political stability remain non-negotiable, forming the heartbeat of investment, industrial productivity, and uninterrupted supply chains.

Ethiopia Becomes Second African Country to Meet Trump in Second Term

Trump Shrugs Off U.S.Textile Industry: Opening a Lane for Ethiopia?