COTE d’Ivoire is responding to newly announced US tariffs with a call for dialogue and diplomacy, viewing the trade dispute as a challenge best resolved through negotiation, according to Foreign Minister Léon Kacou Adom.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025 in Turkey, Adom said his country — the world’s top cocoa producer — was among the African nations most impacted by the sweeping tariff measures announced earlier this month by the US government. The tariffs, which could rise as high as 21 percent, have raised significant concern among exporters.
‘As with all countries around the world, we had some concerns,’ Adom said. ‘But those were quickly calmed by the US decision to delay implementation by three months.’
This postponement, he noted, offers Cote d’Ivoire valuable time to work with Washington on adjusting terms to reduce the economic burden.
‘Our strategy has always been negotiation,’ Adom stressed. ‘We believe we can reach mutual understanding through dialogue.’
Staying the course with France amid Sahel shifts
Cote d’Ivoire’s diplomatic efforts are not limited to its transatlantic trade partners. The country is also navigating increasingly complex regional dynamics in West Africa, where recent military coups have reshaped alliances.
Neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, both under military rule, have distanced themselves from traditional Western allies, including France — their former colonial ruler. These shifts have contributed to France’s decision to withdraw troops from both nations, as well as from Cote d’Ivoire, where it officially handed back its last military base in February.
Despite these moves, Adom made clear that Cote d’Ivoire is maintaining strong ties with Paris.
‘In Cote d’Ivoire, we never speak of a rupture with partners,’ he said. ‘France is a friend. We’re not breaking ties — we are continuing our relationship, but along new paths.’
The continuation of military cooperation with France comes as Cote d’Ivoire remains a key Western partner in a region facing rising instability and shifting alliances.
ECOWAS unity over AES alignment
Asked whether Cote d’Ivoire might consider joining the breakaway Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — formed in 2023 by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger after they withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) — Adom firmly dismissed the idea.
Instead, he emphasised the importance of maintaining a broad regional coalition.
‘Do you think the AES countries would join the 12 other ECOWAS states?’ he asked rhetorically. ‘We are stronger with 15 than with three.’
His comments reaffirm Cote d’Ivoire’s commitment to ECOWAS at a time when the bloc is facing serious internal strain. The three AES nations’ exit has shaken the regional political structure and prompted debates over future cooperation and integration.
Navigating diplomacy on multiple fronts
As one of West Africa’s most politically stable and economically influential countries, Cote d’Ivoire is positioning itself as a steady hand in a volatile region. Its leadership continues to favour dialogue over confrontation — whether in trade disputes with major powers like the United States or in regional matters involving military alliances and political realignments.
Foreign Minister Adom’s statements in Antalya reinforce a broader Ivorian diplomatic strategy: preserving established partnerships, supporting regional integration, and maintaining open lines of communication with both African neighbours and global powers.
