White House hosts West African leaders to discuss trade and development

United States President Donald Trump is meeting with leaders from five African nations as he escalates a trade war that could impact developing countries reliant on commerce with the US. On Wednesday, Trump hosted leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal at the White House for talks and a working lunch, with discussions expected to centre on business opportunities, according to a White House official. The meeting comes after the Trump administration slashed billions in aid to Africa and placed some countries on a travel ban list. Despite a nearly 60% drop in US financial assistance to Africa under Trump's presidency, US-Africa trade reached $71 billion last year. The leaders are expected to discuss key areas of cooperation, including economic development, security, infrastructure and democracy, according to statements from the White House and Liberia. Trump said the five countries were unlikely to face US tariffs. Meanwhile, the impact of tightened US border policies is already being felt, with members of Senegal's women's basketball team recently denied visas to train in the United States. Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque reports from Dakar, Senegal. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #DonaldTrump #TrumpAfricaMeeting #WestAfricaLeaders #USAfricaRelations #AidCutsAfrica #TrumpTravelBan #USForeignPolicy #AfricaUSTrade #USVisaRestrictions #AfricanDiplomacy #USInfluenceAfrica #Gabon #GuineaBissau #Liberia #Mauritania #Senegal #USAfricaTensions