The United States has imposed a 12.5% tariff on Nigerian imports, placing Nigeria among 38 countries affected by Washington’s latest trade measures aimed at tackling forced labour concerns and what it describes as unfair trade practices. Announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the new tariff is part of a broader overhaul of U.S. trade policy that will affect nearly all imports into the country, although products such as oil and gas, fertiliser, and selected food items have been exempted.
According to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the revised tariff regime follows extensive investigations, including public hearings, thousands of stakeholder comments, and consultations with trading partners. Nigeria joins countries such as China, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and Venezuela under the higher 12.5% tariff bracket, while nations including Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Mexico, and Malaysia will face a lower 10% rate.
The latest action comes after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down former President Donald Trump’s earlier “reciprocal” tariffs introduced under emergency powers. In response, the Trump administration introduced a temporary 10% tariff before unveiling the new measures under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a legal framework considered more resilient to court challenges. The new duties are scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Friday, with goods already in transit exempt until July 28.
Explaining the decision, Greer said the United States has enforced a ban on imports produced with forced labour for nearly a century and believes its trading partners should uphold similar standards. The administration also described the move as part of a wider strategy to address trade distortions, strengthen domestic industries, and maintain higher tariffs on countries with significant trade imbalances or unresolved policy disputes. The announcement also comes as Washington continues efforts to reshape its trade relationship with China and other major economies.
For Nigeria, the development adds another layer of pressure to its trade relationship with the United States. The country had already been targeted in 2025 with an additional tariff linked to its ties with the BRICS bloc. While the 12.5% duty is higher than the rate imposed on countries such as Canada, India, and the United Kingdom, the overall impact on Nigerian exporters will depend on the products they ship to the U.S. Since key commodities like oil, gas, fertiliser, and certain food items are exempt, analysts say the full economic effect will become clearer once exporters assess which goods fall within the new tariff framework.
source: nairametrics
