US Imposes 12.5% Tariff on Nigerian Imports

​The United States has enacted a 12.5 per cent tariff on all Nigerian imports under Section 301 of the Trade Act, targeting nations deemed non-compliant with international standards regarding goods produced with forced labour.

​The announcement, released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), forms part of a broader punitive trade policy affecting 60 global economies. Washington stated that the impacted nations have failed to effectively prohibit or enforce bans on the importation of merchandise linked to forced labour practices within their supply chains.

​While Nigeria faces the higher 12.5 per cent levy, several other trading partners—including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom—secured a reduced rate of 10 per cent after committing to or implementing statutory forced labour import prohibitions.

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​The sanctions follow extensive investigations launched by the USTR in May 2026, which involved reviewing over 1,600 written submissions, conducting public hearings with more than 100 witnesses, and consulting upwards of 45 foreign governments. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended the measure, arguing that decades of moral suasion have proven ineffective in eradicating forced labour from global supply networks.

​Specific product exemptions apply under the new framework. The tariffs will bypass certain essential raw materials to prevent domestic supply shortages, goods liable to trigger economy-wide disruptions, and commodities unavailable in sufficient quantities within the United States.

​Federal Register notices indicate that Nigerian products will remain subject to the 12.5 per cent duty outside of designated exemptions outlined in the trade directive, as the administration seeks to compel tighter supply chain regulations globally.