In a move that could reshape global trade, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new tariff policy that includes a 10% baseline tariff on all U.S. imports and higher country-specific tariffs aimed at nations with steep duties on American goods.
Among the affected countries, Nigeria will now face a 14% tariff on exports to the U.S., a response to the 27% tariff the U.S. claims it pays on goods sent to Nigeria.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s trade with the United States amounted to N31.1 trillion between 2015 and 2024.
Within this period, total imports reached N16.4 trillion, accounting for 8.7% of Nigeria’s global exports.
The new tariff policy, which took effect immediately, was announced at a Rose Garden event dubbed “Liberation Day.”
Trump called it a turning point in American trade policy, signaling a shift from long-standing free-trade practices.
“This is one of the most important days in American history,” Trump declared.
“We will supercharge our domestic industrial base, we will pry open foreign markets and break down foreign trade barriers.”
The policy affects more than 50 countries, including key trade partners like China, the European Union, India, and Japan, as well as developing economies across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Several African nations, including Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Mauritius, are also on the list.
The U.S. government stated that Nigeria currently imposes a 27% tariff on U.S. goods, leading to the newly introduced 14% reciprocal tariff on Nigerian exports.
While Nigeria is not among the highest tariff imposers, the move signals a broader approach by the U.S. that extends beyond economic rivals to include developing nations with historically preferential trade terms.
Mauritius, another African nation affected by the new policy, has an 80% tariff on U.S. exports. As a result, the U.S. has now imposed a 40% reciprocal tariff.
Ghana and Ethiopia, which have lower tariffs on U.S. goods (17% and 10% respectively), will see the U.S. apply matching or near-matching tariffs in return.
Other African countries affected include Algeria, which imposes a 59% tariff on U.S. goods and will now face a 30% U.S. tariff; Namibia, which applies a 42% tariff and will now see a 21% tariff from the U.S.; and Lesotho, which enforces a 99% tariff on U.S. imports and will now be subjected to a 50% tariff. Kenya, which maintains a 10% tariff on U.S. goods, will face the same percentage in return.
These changes may have significant consequences for African economies that have benefited from trade agreements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Countries like Nigeria, which have been working to diversify exports beyond crude oil, could find it more challenging to maintain their foothold in the U.S. market unless they revisit their own tariff policies or negotiate new trade agreements.
Without these adjustments, many African nations could struggle with reduced access to the world’s largest consumer market or higher costs to compete in it.
The policy extends beyond Africa, with major Asian economies facing substantial reciprocal tariffs.
Vietnam, which currently imposes a 90% tariff on U.S. goods, will now be subject to a 46% tariff.
Cambodia, which applies a 97% tariff, will see a 49% tariff in return.
Bangladesh, with a 74% tariff, will now face a 37% U.S. tariff. China, which enforces a 67% tariff, will be met with a 34% tariff on its exports to the U.S.
Other key changes include a 26% U.S. tariff on Indian goods, a 32% tariff on Indonesian exports, and a 25% tariff on South Korean products.
Even long-time allies like Japan and the European Union are affected, with Japan facing a 24% U.S. tariff and the EU seeing a 20% tariff.
Countries like the United Kingdom, Brazil, Singapore, Chile, Australia, Turkey, and Colombia will have a 10% tariff on their exports to the U.S., reflecting their existing policies toward American goods.
At the heart of Trump’s trade policy is the principle of “reciprocal tariffs.” Under this approach, the U.S. sets import duties at half the rates that other countries impose on American exports.
A chart displayed during the announcement at the White House labeled Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bangladesh among the highest tariff offenders, all of which will now face steep reciprocal tariffs from the U.S.
The shift in policy represents a significant departure from decades of trade liberalization, with the Trump administration aiming to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and force foreign markets to open up further.
As countries react to these changes, global trade relations may be on the brink of a major transformation.
