Traditional trade finance instruments like commercial Letters of Credit (LCs) are uncommon for SME trade in Africa, and have declined globally over the past decade. We explore why commercial LCs are fading—and which tools are on the rise to support cross-border trade credit in Africa's emerging economies.

The economies of Africa’s 54 countries will see ripple effects from the new US tariff regime, especially as it relates to trade with China, because China is Africa’s biggest trading partner. Given Africa’s central role in providing the raw commodities that are the base materials for products manufactured in China, both countries are part of a clean energy supply chain loop that originates in Africa, passes through China, and is dispatched globally.