The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has imposed a 15 per cent import tariff on Nigeria and several other African countries, intensifying Washington’s global trade measures.
A statement from the White House on Thursday confirmed that the Executive Order, titled “Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates,” takes immediate effect. It mandates that the new duties apply to goods “entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m.”
The affected African nations include Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique, Mauritius, Ghana, Malawi, Lesotho, and Madagascar.
In a broader sweep of trade restrictions, the US also placed heavier tariffs on South Africa and Libya at 30 per cent each, while Tunisia faces 25 per cent. Outside the continent, the United Kingdom will attract 10 per cent, Japan 15 per cent, and India 25 per cent.
The move follows a similar Executive Order issued on April 2, 2025, targeting multiple economies worldwide. Trade experts have warned that the latest round of tariffs could trigger a ripple effect on Nigeria’s import-dependent economy.
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has previously cautioned that the tariffs would inflate the cost of imported goods, strain local businesses reliant on foreign inputs, and further weaken the naira in global markets.
Economic analysts are now calling for strategic government measures to cushion the impact and safeguard the nation’s trade interests as the tariff war escalates.
