Nigeria, April 28 -- At the just-concluded GTR West Africa 2025 Conference in Lagos (April 24-25), policymakers, financiers and business leaders converged to reassess West Africa's position in an increasingly fractured global economy.

With the United States reigniting tariff tensions and the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) nearing expiration, the region faces urgent decisions about its trade alliances and investment strategies.

Delivering the keynote, Tedd George of Kleos Advisory framed the situation starkly: a "Trade War 2.0" is unfolding, and West Africa must pivot. As U.S. protectionism rises, the region is deepening ties with emerging markets like China, India, Brazil and the Gulf States.

Mr George challenged participants...