The trade relationship between Nigeria and the United States has taken a new turn as President Donald Trump announced a 14% tariff on Nigerian exports to the U.S.
The decision, revealed during a ‘Make America Wealthy Again’ event in the Rose Garden on Wednesday, is part of the administration’s broader push to address what it calls unfair trade practices and rebalance global trade.
The Trump administration justified the tariff by pointing to Nigeria’s existing 27 per cent tariff on U.S. exports, arguing that the disparity has long placed American businesses at a disadvantage.
“This is one of the most important days in American history,” Trump said. “We will supercharge our domestic industrial base. We will pry open foreign markets and break down foreign trade barriers, and ultimately, more production at home will mean stronger competition and lower prices for consumers.”
The U.S. government framed the new tariff as a necessary measure to push for “fair trade” and ensure that American industries are not undercut by foreign policies. Trump emphasized that this move is part of a larger economic strategy aimed at revitalizing U.S. manufacturing and reducing trade deficits.
“This will be, indeed, the golden age of Americans coming back. We’re going to come back very strongly,” Trump declared.
However, the policy extends beyond Nigeria, with the U.S. imposing tariffs on over 50 countries, including major trade partners such as China, the European Union, India, and Japan.
In addition, several African nations are also affected, with Algeria facing a 30 per cent tariff, Lesotho 50 per cent, Mauritius 40 per cent, Namibia 21 per cent, while Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ghana each face a 10 per cent levy. South Africa was hit with a reciprocal tariff of 30 per cent.
