US President Donald Trump’s protectionist tariffs have impacted trade and industrialisation across the globe. [AFP] Africa stands at a critical crossroads. Despite holding enormous economic potential, the continent faces mounting external pressures, including the latest wave of protectionist tariffs from the United States that threaten to derail fragile gains in trade and industrialisation. The recent move by the US government to impose steep tariffs on African exports should serve as a wake-up call for the continent. As global markets become increasingly protectionist, Africa must urgently strengthen its internal trading mechanisms. This is where homegrown solutions such as the Trans-Africa Bond…