The world is in a state of flux – John Rosenberg tells Toyin Umesiri of ‘Trade With Africa’

Toyin Umesiri, a Nigerian-born business educator, trainer, author and founder of popular US-based television program, Trade With Africa, recently interviewed widely travelled global policy, security, trade and development consultant and founder of the Rosslyn Group, John Rosenberg.

Umesiri, the Founder and CEO of Nazaru, Convener of the acclaimed Trade with Africa Business Summit, and Board Member of the multinational, Westrock Coffee Company LLC, took Rosenberg, a Washington DC-based authority on US, Africa, China and Middle East affairs, up on a wide range of issues, ranging from U.S.-Africa relations, to global trade, geopolitical flux, and the evolving narrative of African empowerment.

Here are excerpts, by Umesiri, from the engaging interface:

The State of Global Affairs: A Time of Flux
According to Rosenberg, the world is in unprecedented flux—geopolitically, institutionally, and economically. Longstanding alliances like NATO are under strain, institutions like Voice of America and USAID are being dismantled or diminished, and the global balance of influence is rapidly shifting. The strategic dismantling of U.S. soft power tools—especially USAID—was a central point of discussion. Far from being mere goodwill gestures, these agencies served as strategic levers for U.S. global influence, especially in disaster relief, diplomacy, and trade facilitation.

Africa at a Crossroads: Dependency vs. Self-Determination
We explored the harsh reality that many African nations are still dependent on foreign powers for critical needs such as food, medicines, and manufacturing. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the Ukraine-Russia war, global disruptions have laid bare the vulnerability of Africa’s supply chains. John agreed that Africa often got the “short end of the stick” during global crises—not for lack of will, but for lack of infrastructure, systems, and agency. Yet, what’s shifting is the African mindset: “No more heroes. We want partners.”

China’s Playbook: Strategic, Subtle, and Grassroots
Where America approaches with policies and politics, China enters with strategy and soft influence. China is not just negotiating with African governments—they’re building manufacturing plants, creating jobs, and winning hearts through dignity, respect, and economic opportunity. “Whoever feeds the labor owns the government,” I emphasized. China’s focus on grassroots influence through labor and industrial investment gives them unmatched leverage—something America must study and respond to if it wants to maintain relevance on the African continent.

American Businesses: Missing in Action
One of the key themes we revisited is the under-participation of U.S. businesses in Africa. While the government continues to debate policies like AGOA and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, real economic opportunities in Africa remain largely untapped by American entrepreneurs. Business-to-business trade, supported—but not led—by government agencies like EXIM and the Department of Commerce, is the key to unlocking growth.

“Trade enablers cannot be the champions,” I shared. “It is business confidence that drives trade, not paperwork.”

AGOA: A Tool That Underperformed
John and I dissected the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. trade policy lauded on paper but lacking impact on the ground. Why? The absence of education, institutional knowledge, and skills among those who should benefit from it. Policies are useless if the business community—exporters, customs agents, buyers—don’t know how to access them. AGOA failed not for lack of good intent but due to a lack of investment in capacity building and stakeholder engagement.

Africa Rising: From Youth to Manufacturing
Today, Africa is being reshaped by its youth—the most energetic, tech-savvy, and globally connected generation in its history. They are not waiting for handouts. They are demanding dignity, opportunity, and a seat at the table. The future belongs to those who understand that Africa’s growth will be African-led. From grassroots labor to global manufacturing, from entrepreneurial energy to digital currency, the continent is positioning itself for a quantum leap—if the world lets it.

Final Thoughts: Partnership is the Path Forward
John and I agreed: Respect, partnership, and investment in African capacity are the winning formula for the future. American businesses and policymakers must move beyond outdated narratives and begin treating African nations as equals—markets to be understood, collaborators to be engaged, and partners to be respected.

The conversation isn’t over.

We’ll be bringing John Rosenberg back to cover even more ground—AGOA renewal, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the evolving geopolitical landscape of the continent.

To all readers, business leaders, and policymakers: Africa’s ports are open. The people are ready. The question is—are you?

📩 submit your questions for the next conversation with John Rosenberg through: info@toyinumesiri.com