The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has officially placed a 15% tariff on imports from Nigeria and several other African nations.
This decision was made through an Executive Order aimed at adjusting trade terms with other countries.
A statement from the White House said the order, titled “Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates,” will start at 12:01 a.m. on the date mentioned in the order. It applies to goods brought in for use or taken out of storage for sale after that time.
The countries affected by this 15% tariff include Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Lesotho, and Madagascar.
The U.S. government explained that the move is part of what it calls a “reciprocal trade adjustment,” meaning it wants to balance trade terms between America and its trading partners.
In a stronger action, the U.S. also added a 30% tariff on imports from South Africa and Libya, and 25% on goods from Tunisia.
The new tariffs are not limited to Africa. The United Kingdom will now face a 10% tariff, while India and Japan were hit with 25% and 15% tariffs, respectively.
This decision shows a tougher approach in the Trump administration’s trade policies, which have recently focused more on protecting American industries.
Earlier this year, on April 2, 2025, the U.S. had already introduced tariffs on many countries, including Nigeria. The latest announcement expands that list and increases the rates.
Some Nigerian business experts have warned that the new tariffs could cause serious problems for the economy. The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) shared concerns that the higher import duties could lead to rising prices, reduced trade, and more pressure on the country’s already struggling currency.
“The imposition of tariffs by the US government will not only affect trade relations but also increase the cost of doing business for Nigerian exporters,” the CPPE had said in a previous statement.
Many economic analysts are now advising the Nigerian government to respond through diplomatic talks and trade discussions to help reduce the negative effects of the new U.S. trade actions.
