Nigeria has been included among 60 trading partners affected by a fresh round of US import tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, with duties ranging from 10% to 12.5% on goods entering the United States.
The US administration said the tariffs target countries accused of failing to curb the importation of goods produced through forced labour. The new measures, which took effect on Thursday, replace the 10% global tariff introduced in February and apply to countries accounting for 99.4% of US imports.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the tariffs are aimed at addressing human rights concerns and unfair trade practices. However, the levies will not apply to certain raw materials, products essential to domestic supply, goods that could disrupt the US economy, or items that cannot be produced in sufficient quantities within the country.
The latest move marks another escalation in the global trade tensions since Trump’s return to office. Nigeria was previously hit with a 14% tariff in April and a 15% import tariff in August, alongside several other African countries. Many affected nations, including Canada, have criticised the new tariffs.