U.S. Imposes Tariffs on Nigeria Over Forced Labor Issues

The administration of United States President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on imports from Nigeria and 59 other economies, citing their inability to prevent the importation of goods produced through forced labor. The tariffs, announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Thursday, are set at either 10% or 12.5%, depending on each country's policies regarding forced labor.

This decision follows investigations initiated in May 2026 under Section 301 of the Trade Act, which involved 60 of the U.S.'s largest trading partners. The USTR received over 1,600 public submissions during the review process and conducted hearings with more than 100 witnesses, alongside consultations with over 45 governments.

Nigeria falls into the 12.5% tariff category, while countries that have implemented or pledged to implement restrictions on forced labor imports will face the lower 10% tariff. The USTR also noted that for the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan, tariffs will be applied after considering the applicable Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff rate.