U.S. Shifts Focus: Trade Over Aid as Aid Cuts Loom

As President Trump reduces U.S. foreign assistance, key projects like a crucial overpass in Abidjan face uncertainty. The administration is emphasizing trade, not aid, reshaping U.S. engagement with African nations.

In Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the cries of frustrated commuters highlight a growing concern: the city's infrastructure projects, long supported by U.S. financing, are at risk due to drastic cuts in foreign aid. A much-anticipated overpass, meant to ease daily congestion for approximately 120,000 vehicles, is now in a race against time as construction workers hurry to finish before funding potentially runs out this August. For years, signs proudly proclaimed these developments as funded by the American taxpayer, but the recent removal of this billboard signals a shift in U.S. foreign policy.

Under the Trump administration, foreign aid allocation has been dramatically reduced, leaving significant projects and local stakeholders uncertain about their financial futures. "Trade, not aid, is now the keystone of our policy in Africa," stated Troy Fitrell, a high-ranking official within the State Department, during a recent business summit in Abidjan. There, American and Ivorian companies entered into various business agreements, including partnerships for agricultural drones and border monitoring technologies.

However, this pivot to trade comes at a cost. The Trump administration's priorities have reversed established norms of U.S. involvement in Africa. The U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) has seen its budget slashed, and trade tariffs threaten existing free-trade agreements with numerous African countries. Additionally, relaxations in anti-corruption standards may adversely affect U.S. companies operating abroad.

Despite the U.S. pivot, Africa remains a continent of opportunity, anticipated to be home to a significant share of the global population in the coming decades. Nevertheless, with U.S. trade accounting for only a small fraction of its economy, experts warn that these moves could undermine the potential for prosperity in both regions. As negotiations unfold and agreements are signed, the future hangs in the balance—will trade truly replace aid, or are critical infrastructure projects destined for neglect?