Trump’s New Tariffs May Threaten Nigerian Exports, FG Warns

The Nigerian government has raised concerns about the new trade tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, saying they could harm Nigeria’s oil and non-oil exports to the United States.

In a statement on Sunday, Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the new tariffs could create serious problems for Nigerian businesses that sell goods to the U.S.

“These new tariffs could make it harder for Nigerian products to compete in the U.S. market,” she said.

Nigeria sends about $5 to $6 billion worth of goods to the United States each year. Most of that—over 90%—is made up of crude oil, natural gas, and related products, the government said. Other exports include fertilizers, urea, and lead, which was worth about $82 million last year.

The minister said a new 10% tax on some products could make Nigerian goods more expensive and less attractive to U.S. buyers, especially non-oil exports that used to enjoy duty-free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

“For smaller businesses, this will make it even harder to sell their products abroad,” Oduwole said. “Many of them already face rising costs and unreliable customers.”

SMEs Could Suffer Most

Oduwole added that small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that rely on AGOA benefits would be hit hardest. These businesses often don’t have the resources to handle price increases or changes in international trade rules.

To deal with these challenges, she said the government is working to improve the quality and global standards of Nigerian products so they can enter new markets outside the U.S.

“We are committed to strengthening our non-oil exports and making sure they meet international quality standards,” she said.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) have also criticized the new U.S. tariffs, warning they could harm the global economy.

President Trump, however, says the tariffs are meant to correct what he calls unfair trade practices.

He pointed out that Nigeria charges a 27% tax on American products, and said the new 14% tax on Nigerian goods is a fair response.

The U.S. tariffs, which began on April 2, affect more than 50 countries, including major economies like China, the European Union, India, and Japan, as well as many developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.