This week's biggest stories from the Global South: Trump's tariffs hit Africa hard, ceasefire in Colombia, Filipino spies arrested in China

U.S. President Trump delivers remarks on tariffs, at the White House

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Source: REUTERS

Here are the week’s top headlines from across the Global South.

Africa

10 poor countries paying the price for Donald Trump's tariff hikes

President Trump has extended his trade war to poorer nations like Lesotho, a southern African country known for textiles. Once dubbed the “denim capital of Africa,” it exported $235 million to the U.S. in 2024, supporting 30,000 jobs. Now, its denim exports face a steep 50% tariff. Read more here.

Money, lies, and power: How South Africans see Elon Musk

FILE PHOTO: Elon Musk — FILE PHOTO: Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk listens as US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington, DC, U.S. on November 13, 2024. ALLISON ROBBERT/Pool via REUTERS//File Photo

New research by Global South World reveals many South Africans view Elon Musk negatively. Analysing 82,300 online mentions and 572,000 likes, the study found common keywords like “money, disinformation, lies,” highlighting widespread criticism across media platforms. Read more here.

15-year-old Nigerian boy with autism breaks world record for largest canvas painting

Fifteen-year-old Nigerian artist Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke has entered the Guinness World Records for the largest solo canvas painting, spanning 12,303 square meters. It was unveiled on April 2 at Abuja’s Eagle Square, coinciding with World Autism Awareness Day. Read more here.

Asia

Taiwan eyes zero tariffs with US, pledges more investment

Containers are seen at the Port of Keelung — FILE PHOTO: Kids view the area from a lookout point over cranes and containers at the Port of Keelung, Taiwan April 3, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has offered zero tariffs in talks with the U.S., pledging to remove trade barriers and boost U.S. investments. This comes after President Trump imposed broad import tariffs, including a 32% duty on Taiwanese goods—though semiconductors, a key export, are exempt. Read more here.

Philippines alarmed over China arrest of alleged Filipino spies

FILE PHOTO: Philippines' foreign ministry holds a joint news conference on water cannon incident in the South China Sea — FILE PHOTO: Colonel Medel Aguilar (right), spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, whispers to Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson for the National Security Council, as they take part in a press conference in response to recent aggression of the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, Philippines, August 07, 2023. Ezra Acayan/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

The Philippines has voiced concern over China’s arrest of three Filipinos for alleged spying, calling them ordinary citizens and possible retaliation for Manila’s anti-espionage efforts. Officials say the trio were former scholars with no military ties. Read more here.

Indonesia will not retaliate against Trump tariff, official says

A motorcycle rider drives past stacks of containers at the Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 3, 2025. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

Indonesia will not retaliate against President Trump’s 32% tariff, its top economic minister said Sunday, April 6. Instead, the country will seek diplomatic and negotiated solutions to the sweeping U.S. trade measures. Read more here.

Colombian rebel group steps towards peace, hands over war material

Colombian rebel group hands over war material, signs agreements with government — Colombia's President Gustavo Petro attends a ceremony in which the armed group Comuneros del Sur, a dissident of the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas, handed over war material and signed two peace agreements, in Pasto, Colombia, April 5, 2025. REUTERS/Luis Jaime Acosta

Colombian armed group Comuneros del Sur, a breakaway faction of the ELN, handed over weapons and signed two peace agreements with President Gustavo Petro on Saturday, April 5. At an event in Pasto, the group said the move showed its commitment to peace. Read more here.

Amazon shipping route for Brazilian soy disrupted by protests, poor roads

Munduruku Indigenous people block Brazil's BR 230 national highway, in Itaituba — FILE PHOTO: Trucks are seen in line while Munduruku Indigenous people block Brazil's BR 230 national highway, as they protest to overturn a 2023 law aimed at limiting their land rights, in Itaituba, Para state, Brazil March 26, 2025. Courtesy Coletivo audiovisual Da'uk Frank akay Munduruku/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Indigenous protests and poor roads have disrupted Brazil’s soybean shipments via the Miritituba port, affecting major firms like Cargill and Bunge. Grain handler group Abiove said blockades have delayed about 70,000 tons daily, worth nearly $30 million. Read more here.

US official discusses Panama Canal-related audit with Panamanian minister

FILE PHOTO: Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez Acha speaks during the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Ministerial at the State Department in Washington, U.S., July 17, 2024. REUTERS/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/File Photo

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha discussed the ongoing audit of Hutchison’s management of two key ports by the Panama Canal. While Panama runs the canal, the ports are operated by Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison, alongside others run by U.S., Singaporean, and Taiwanese firms. Read more here.

Abigail Johnson Boakye