The United States has imposed a 12.5 per cent tariff on imports from Nigeria under a new trade policy aimed at countries that Washington says have failed to effectively ban the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
The new measure, announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), affects imports from 60 economies investigated by the US government under Section 301 of the Trade Act. Nigeria is among the countries facing the higher 12.5 per cent tariff, while several other nations will pay a lower rate after taking steps to strengthen their laws against forced labour.
According to a statement published on the USTR website on Thursday, the tariffs are part of efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to pressure trading partners to adopt and enforce strict measures against goods linked to forced labour.
The USTR said countries that have already introduced, or formally committed to introducing, bans on the importation of products made with forced labour would face a 10 per cent tariff instead of the higher rate.
Among the countries that qualified for the lower tariff are India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and the United Kingdom, alongside Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago.
However, Nigeria did not make that list and will instead be subjected to a 12.5 per cent tariff on most of its exports to the United States.
A Federal Register notice issued by the USTR explained that the decision followed an investigation into Nigeria’s trade practices and consultations with stakeholders.
The notice stated that after considering public comments, witness testimony, recommendations from the Section 301 Committee and advisory committees, as well as directives from the US President, the Trade Representative concluded that imposing the tariff was appropriate.
It added that the measure was designed to encourage Nigeria to address what the US described as shortcomings in policies relating to the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
The USTR said the tariff would apply to Nigerian products except for items listed under specific exemptions contained in Annex I and Annex II of the Federal Register notice.
According to the agency, the tariff level and the exemptions were carefully chosen to achieve the objective of eliminating the trade practices identified during the investigation.
The investigations began in May 2026 under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, which allows the United States government to investigate and respond to what it considers unfair trade practices by foreign countries.
The USTR said the process involved extensive consultations before a final decision was reached.
According to the agency, it received more than 1,600 written submissions from businesses, industry groups and members of the public. It also held public hearings involving more than 100 witnesses and consulted over 45 governments before announcing the new tariffs.
The agency maintained that the process was thorough and evidence-based.
Explaining the difference in tariff rates, the USTR said a 10 per cent duty would apply to countries that have already implemented a forced labour import prohibition, committed to introducing such a law through a reciprocal trade agreement, or adopted a partial system that effectively blocks certain goods produced through forced labour.
For all other countries investigated, including Nigeria, the tariff was fixed at 12.5 per cent.
The latest trade action follows another tariff policy introduced earlier this year after President Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose temporary universal tariffs on imports.
That move came after the US Supreme Court blocked the administration’s broader tariff programme introduced under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the latest decision reflects Washington’s determination to eliminate forced labour from global supply chains.
According to him, the United States has maintained a ban on imports linked to forced labour for almost 100 years and believes its trading partners should adopt similar standards.
“President Trump recognises that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labour from global supply chains,” Greer said.
“The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century. It’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same.”
Despite the new tariffs, the USTR announced several exemptions aimed at reducing the impact on the US economy and domestic industries.
The agency said the duties would not apply to certain raw materials whose restriction could lead to supply shortages in the United States.
Other exempted products include goods whose tariffs could trigger widespread economic disruptions, products that are not available in sufficient quantities from US manufacturers or alternative foreign suppliers, and selected imports from countries that have already adopted or pledged to enforce forced labour import bans.
The USTR also noted that additional exemptions were granted in situations where imposing tariffs was considered unlikely to change the trade practices under investigation.
Although the US government has not identified specific Nigerian products linked to forced labour, the new tariff is expected to affect a range of exports entering the American market unless they qualify for exemptions.
Nigeria exports several products to the United States, including crude oil, agricultural products, fertiliser, chemicals, leather goods and manufactured items. Higher tariffs could make some Nigerian products more expensive in the US market, potentially reducing their competitiveness against goods from countries facing lower duties or enjoying exemptions.
Trade experts say the development may also increase pressure on Nigeria to strengthen its legal and regulatory framework against forced labour in line with international labour standards.
The United States remains one of Nigeria’s important trading partners, with trade relations covering energy, agriculture, manufacturing and services. In recent years, both countries have sought to expand economic cooperation through investment and trade initiatives.
The latest tariff decision, however, introduces a new challenge for Nigerian exporters seeking access to the US market. Businesses affected by the higher duty may now have to review pricing strategies or explore alternative markets while the Nigerian government considers possible diplomatic and trade responses.