The Newsmagazine of the American Historical Association
From Aid to Trade
The “new chapter” in US-Africa relations isn’t so new after all.
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November 2025
In April, the White House announced drastic changes in US tariff policy that have led to much uncertainty about prices and fees for imported goods and how they will affect American consumers. International diplomatic and economic policies continue to shift, including an announcement in July of a new approach to Africa that centers “commercial diplomacy.” As Leigh Gardner writes in “From Aid to Trade,” in fact the administration’s new approach isn’t new at all. Similar policies in the 1920s encouraged economic partnerships between the United States and Africa with varying effectiveness. But will these historical precedents influence current policymaking? Only time will tell.
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Perspectives on History is the newsmagazine of the American Historical Association and is the principal source for news and information about the discipline of history. Since 1962, Perspectives has cultivated the community of historians and promoted our work by publishing articles and commentary on all aspects of the historical discipline. The print magazine and its website showcase work by historians working in various professional settings.
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American Historical Review
The American Historical Review is the official publication of the American Historical Association and has been the journal of record for the historical discipline in the United States since 1895.