Trump Imposes 15% Tariff on Nigeria, Other African Nations in Major U.S. Trade Shift

President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping trade policy shift, officially imposing a 15% tariff on imports from Nigeria and several other African countries. The new tariff structure, detailed in an executive order titled “Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates,” takes effect from 12:01 a.m. today.

The policy comes after a previously announced 14% tariff in April 2025, which allowed a 90-day grace period for bilateral negotiations. That deadline expired on July 31, and with no significant agreements reached, the revised tariff has now been activated.

Efforts by Nigeria and other African nations to negotiate tailored trade deals reportedly failed to yield results. In addition to trade restrictions, the U.S. also reinstated travel bans on several African countries during the negotiation period. Nigeria, which was initially exempt, was later added to the list.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, expressed disappointment, saying the policy complicates ongoing efforts to deepen economic cooperation between West Africa and the United States.

The new 15% tariff applies to imports from over 40 countries, including:
Afghanistan, Angola, Bolivia, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The administration states the measure is aimed at establishing “fairer trade practices” and protecting U.S. industries.

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