U.S. Slams Nigeria with 15% Tariff Amid Failing Trade Talks – EmeraldLoaded Reports
EmeraldLoaded News Desk | August 2, 2025
Nigeria, alongside several other African nations, has officially been hit with a 15% import tariff under a newly signed executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump. The directive, part of a modified “reciprocal tariff policy”, was confirmed Thursday by the White House and is set to take immediate effect.
While trade talks had been ongoing for months, sources told EmeraldLoaded that negotiations between the U.S. and African nations—including Nigeria—failed to produce any new agreements, forcing the U.S. to implement the delayed tariffs by the August 1 deadline.
This move marks a sharp escalation in Trump’s revised global trade framework. Previously in April, Nigerian exports were already subjected to a 14% levy, but that rate has now climbed to 15%—a change many analysts say could strain Nigeria’s economy and diplomatic relations with Washington.
In addition to the tariffs, the U.S. also imposed travel restrictions on several African nations back in June. Though Nigeria was initially exempt, it was later added to the list mid-June, further deepening tensions.
According to the reviewed document obtained by Saturday PUNCH and confirmed by EmeraldLoaded, the list of countries affected includes over 40 nations such as Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and South Korea.
Other countries were slammed with even higher import duties, underscoring the aggressive tone of Trump’s trade policy heading into Q4.
📉 What This Means:
Nigerian exporters, especially those in agriculture, textiles, and oil, could face major hurdles accessing U.S. markets. Local trade associations are calling for immediate government intervention to shield producers from the ripple effect of this decision.
Stay with EmeraldLoaded for real-time updates on how this tariff impacts local businesses, the Naira, and future foreign trade strategy.
