Trump imposes 15% tariff on Nigeria, several African nations in major trade policy shift

In a significant escalation of protectionist trade measures, U.S. President Donald Trump has officially imposed a 15 percent tariff on a host of African countries, including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique, Mauritius, Ghana, Malawi, Lesotho, and Madagascar, among others.

The measure, announced Thursday in a White House statement, is part of a broader Executive Order titled “Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates.”

The order declares that the revised tariff structure will take effect for all applicable goods entered or withdrawn for consumption from 12:01 a.m. on the effective date.

In addition to the 15 percent tariff on select African nations, South Africa and Libya face a steeper 30 percent levy, while Tunisia has been hit with a 25 percent tariff. Other countries impacted by the policy include the United Kingdom (10%), India (25%), and Japan (15%).

This development follows a previous Executive Order issued on April 2, 2025, in which President Trump signaled his administration’s intention to implement new tariffs as part of a sweeping overhaul of America’s trade strategy.

According to the U.S. government, the policy aims to “rebalance trade relationships” and “promote reciprocity” in global commerce.

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However, it has drawn sharp criticism from economic analysts and affected countries, who argue that the move may strain diplomatic relations and disrupt supply chains.

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), a Nigerian economic think tank, has warned that the tariff hike will have adverse effects on Nigeria’s trade volume with the United States, increase the cost of exports, and discourage foreign investment in sectors reliant on U.S. partnerships.

“The tariffs are likely to impact Nigeria’s non-oil exports, particularly in agro-processing, textiles, and light manufacturing,” the CPPE noted in an earlier statement.

As the new tariffs come into effect, affected countries are expected to review their trade relations with the U.S., while calls for regional self-reliance and intra-African trade under the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) may gain fresh momentum.