25 Mar 2026

Negotiations between Botswana and the United States remain ongoing as government seeks to secure a zero-tariff agreement on diamond exports. 

Answering a parliamentaryquestion on behalf of the Minister of Minerals and Energy, on Tuesday, Minister of Communications and Innovation, Mr David Tshere, confirmed that while a final deal had not yet been reached, Botswana had submitted its offer and requests and was currently awaiting a response. 

Minister Tshere told Parliament that the trade dispute stems from a Reciprocal Tariff Policy were introduced by the US in April 2025 and targeted countries perceived to maintain high trade imbalances. 

Initially, he said, Botswana was hit with a 37 per cnt export tariff, adding that however, following interventions led by the President, that rate was successfully negotiated down to the current 15 per cent in August last year. 

“The current tariff remains at 15 per cent, while the negotiations with the US continue,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Kgatleng West, Dr Unity Dow had asked whether a zero-tariff agreement on rough diamonds had ever been reached with the United States of America, and if not, what the current tariff was. BOPA