'We are on our knees': U.S. tariffs devastate Lesotho's garment workers

NPR ^ | 07/20/2025 | Kare Bartlett

[Brian Griffin]

“you remind me of obama admiring china for being able to get things done (with slave labor)”

The Chinese Communist constitution requires working age people able to work to work.

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”

“Jeder nach seinen Fähigkeiten, jedem nach seinen Bedürfnissen”

[Mean Daddy]

I’m not sure if it was them or not but there was a jeans manufacturer who converted a tanker to do their manufacturing. They were dumping the dyes, chemicals at sea but would put in at various ports to drop off their wears.

[Lurker]

And you’re a simple minded fool.

L

[dfwgator]

Legacy of colonialism. Weak institutions. Foreign aid?

---

White people getting rich off of African misery, while the white liberals support it because they love being the “White Savior” of all the “oppressed people” of the world.

[lastchance]

The problem we have with China flooding U.S. markets with cheap goods is not an isolated practice. The same situation exists for many African nations but it is U.S. goods (mostly clothing) which is their concern. They want to boost manufacturing in Africa for the same reasons Trump want to see U.S. manufacturing increase.

I can’t opine as an expert but to me true fair trade involves an equitable exchange of goods (usually those not available domestically) not an outright flooding of products which could be and should be made domestically.

I don’t know the original arrangement but I would hope the deal was meant to be temporary and conditional.

[lastchance]

Thank you.

[lurk]

When we push a five dollar bill across the table and they slide back four, a fix is needful.

[lastchance]

The media did not outright state that Trump was only looking at the trade imbalance. I inferred it from what the posted part of the article implied. If Trump has other rational for putting such a tariff on Lesotho I will gladly be pointed in that direction. For instance to pressure the U.S. companies to stop unfair (or outright abusive) labor practices.

[lastchance]

Thanks for that logical perspective.

[lastchance]

If you think this only about Levi’s profit margin you are sadly blind to reality.

[13foxtrot]

Levi’s has been anti-American for a long while now.

[lastchance]

You should do a bit of reading on the subject of forced conversions. It might give you the dose of knowledge on Islam you are sadly wanting.

[PeterPrinciple]

The media did not outright state that Trump was only looking at the trade imbalance. I inferred it from what the posted part of the article implied.

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and that is the point.

[MinorityRepublican]

You should do a bit of reading on the subject of forced conversions. It might give you the dose of knowledge on Islam you are sadly wanting.

That's only a part of it. It's a battle between ideas. We had to do that with the Soviets in the 20th Century and yes, neo-Marxists in the West during the 21st Century.

[af_vet_1981]

Southern Africa; not South Africa.

Lesotho, a high-altitude, landlocked kingdom encircled by South Africa,

[af_vet_1981]

Lesotho and Israel maintain full diplomatic relations. Lesotho, along with Malawi and Swaziland, was one of the few sub-Saharan African countries that did not sever ties with Israel following the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Israel's diplomatic representation for Lesotho is handled through its embassy in South Africa.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Christianity: Roughly 90% of the population identifies as Christian. 
Protestantism: This is the largest Christian denomination, encompassing various groups like Anglicans, evangelical Christians, Methodists, and Pentecostals. 
Catholicism: Roman Catholics make up a significant portion of the Christian population. 
Other Religions: Muslims, Hindus, Baha'is, and followers of traditional indigenous religions constitute a small minority. 
Non-Religious: A small percentage of the population does not identify with any religion. 
Syncretism: It's common for Christians, particularly in rural areas, to blend traditional Basotho beliefs and practices with their Christian faith. 

[TexasGator]

Israel bought their support.

[af_vet_1981]

Israel bought their support.

And ? The United States bought the support of entire world, until most of the world reneged on the debt they own us for our significant contribution to winning WWII and defeating Communism.

[TexasGator]

“And ?”

And ? ?