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.

U.S.-Lesotho Trade Facts

Lesotho is currently our 127th largest goods trading partner with $397 million in total (exports plus imports) goods trade during 2011.

Exports

Lesotho was the United States' 195th largest goods export market in 2011.

U.S. goods exports to Lesotho in 2011 were $13 million, up 16% from 2010.

The top export category (2-digit HS) for 2011 was: Cotton, and Yarn ($7 million).

Imports

Lesotho was the United States' 102nd largest supplier of goods imports in 2011.

U.S. goods imports from Lesotho totaled $384 million in 2011, a 28.6% increase from 2010.

The top import categories (2-digit HS) for 2011 were: Knit Apparel ($171 million) and Woven Apparel ($144 million). These two categories represented nearly 82% of total imports from Lesotho.

Trade Balance

The U.S. goods trade deficit with Lesotho was $371 million in 2011, a 29.1% increase from 2010.