Lesotho

AGOA Status: Lesotho is eligible for AGOA this year. It also qualifies for textile and apparel benefits.

Trade Agreements: The U.S. and the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), which includes Lesotho, signed a Trade, Investment, and Development Cooperative Agreement (TIDCA) in 2008. The TIDCA establishes a forum for consultative discussions, cooperative work, and possible agreements on a wide range of trade issues, with a special focus on customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, and trade and investment promotion. The TIDCA was developed at the conclusion of active Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the U.S. and SACU, which were suspended in 2006 due to divergent views on the scope and level of ambition for an FTA.

U.S.-Lesotho Trade Facts

Lesotho is currently our 125th largest goods trading partner with $310.3 million in total (exports plus imports) goods trade during 2010. Goods exports totaled $11.3 million; Goods imports totaled $298.9 million. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Lesotho was $287 million in 2010.

Exports

Lesotho was the United States' 189th largest goods export market in 2010.

U.S. goods exports to Lesotho in 2010 were $11.3 million, down 32 % from 2009.

The top export category (2-digit HS) for 2009 was: Special Other ($10.7 million).

Imports

Lesotho was the United States' 97th largest supplier of goods imports in 2010.

U.S. goods imports from Lesotho totaled $298.9 million in 2010, a 1.7% decrease from 2009.

The top import categories (2-digit HS) for 2009 were: Knit Apparel ($161.5 million) and Woven Apparel ($119.2 million). These two categories represented nearly 94% of total imports from Lesotho.

Trade Balance

The U.S. goods trade deficit with Lesotho was $287.6 million in 2010, roughly the same as in 2009.