Lesotho remains heavily impacted despite a delayed reprieve from a looming U.S. tariff of up to 50 percent on textile exports. Industry leaders estimate thousands of jobs have been lost and export revenue has plunged by double‑digit percentages. The tariff delay came too late to prevent factory closures and supply chain disruptions. Regional economists warn that GDP contraction could follow without rapid intervention. The episode underscores vulnerability of small developing‑economy export sectors to sudden policy shifts.