Nigeria has gained a significant trade advantage after the United Kingdom confirmed that almost 3,000 Nigerian products are now eligible for zero or reduced tariffs under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).
Launched in 2023, the program broadens Nigeria’s access to the UK’s consumer market and reinforces efforts to support developing economies in global trade.
The tariff relief targets sectors with strong export potential that have traditionally faced cost barriers, including agriculture, textiles, leather products, and light manufacturing.
As seen on Business Insider Africa, the UK has emphasized that its post-Brexit trade strategy prioritizes Africa, aiming to strengthen commercial ties and encourage investment.
“These reforms create an export platform for Nigeria at a time when global tariffs are rising and traditional markets are under pressure,” said Ms. Mujina Kaindama, UK Head of Trade Policy for Nigeria.
Speaking at the UK DCTS Roadshow in Kano, organized by Propcon+ in collaboration with the Kano State Government and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Kaindama noted that the scheme will help Nigerian firms connect with UK buyers while promoting value-added production domestically.
“Exports are not just a policy priority, they are an economic necessity,” she stressed.
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Mrs. Orji Gertrude, Director of the Investment Promotion Department at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, highlighted the close collaboration between the two countries since the scheme’s launch.
She noted that efforts have focused on ensuring Nigerian business owners have access to relevant information and can fully leverage the opportunities presented by the DCTS.
The announcement comes at a critical time as global trade faces rising protectionism, particularly under U.S. policies.
With the U.S. increasingly imposing tariffs and phasing out preferential agreements such as AGOA, Nigeria faces an urgent need to diversify its export markets.
The UK’s tariff concessions provide a timely alternative as access to traditional markets becomes more constrained.
Trade experts caution that while tariff access is advantageous, Nigeria must improve logistics, certification systems, and regulatory compliance to fully capitalize on the opportunity.
Strengthening manufacturing capacity and supply-chain reliability will be crucial to ensuring Nigerian products meet demand and remain competitively sustainable.
If implemented effectively, the DCTS could become one of Nigeria’s most significant avenues for boosting non-oil exports and a strategic buffer against global tariff pressures in the coming years.
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Image Credit: Loyal Nigerian Lawyer
