The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has officially imposed a 15 per cent tariff on imports from Nigeria and several other African countries in a sweeping Executive Order targeting global trade partners.
According to a statement released by the White House on Thursday, the directive titled “Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates” will take effect from 12:01 a.m. on the implementation date stated in the order.
These modifications shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m., the statement noted.
Naija News reports that countries affected by the new tariff regime include Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique, Mauritius, Ghana, Malawi, Lesotho, and Madagascar.
The decision comes as part of what the Trump administration describes as a ‘reciprocal trade adjustment.’
In a more punitive stance, the United States also imposed 30 per cent tariffs on imports from South Africa and Libya, and 25 per cent on Tunisia.
Global Allies Not Spared
Naija News reports that the tariff list extends beyond Africa. The United Kingdom will now face a 10 per cent tariff, while India and Japan were hit with 25 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively.
The decision marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s trade policy, which has adopted a more protectionist tone in recent months.
Nigeria Previously Targeted
It will be recalled that on April 2, 2025, the US issued an earlier Executive Order imposing import tariffs on various countries globally, Nigeria included. Thursday’s announcement appears to build on that policy by adjusting and expanding the list of affected nations.
Meanwhile, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has previously expressed concerns over the impact of such tariffs on the Nigerian economy.
Speaking on the development, the CPPE warned that the import levy could trigger cost hikes, reduced trade volumes, and pressure on foreign exchange in Nigeria’s already strained economy.
“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 stated in an earlier analysis.
Economic stakeholders have urged the Nigerian government to explore diplomatic channels and trade negotiations to mitigate the potential impact of the new tariffs.
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