The United States has announced a new 12.5% tariff on all imports from Nigeria after concluding that the country did not establish or effectively enforce a ban on goods produced with forced labour.
The measure was disclosed on Thursday by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) after a Section 301 investigation into the trade practices of 60 economies, including Nigeria.
According to the USTR, Nigeria was among 54 economies found not to have implemented and effectively enforced restrictions on the importation of goods made wholly or partly with forced labour.
Consequently, the U.S. government said Nigerian exports entering the American market will now be subject to an additional 12.5% duty, except for products covered by exemptions listed in the notice. The tariffs will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on July 24, 2026, with a limited grace period for shipments already in transit.
The USTR stated that economies which have already introduced and enforced forced labour import bans, pledged to do so through an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), or adopted partial measures restricting certain forced labour goods will instead face a lower 10% tariff.
Nigeria was placed in the higher tariff category alongside several other countries that, according to the U.S., had not taken adequate action.
The investigation, launched in March 2026 under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, assessed whether the economies concerned had laws banning the importation of goods produced with forced labour and whether those laws were being effectively enforced.
The USTR said it reviewed more than 1,600 public submissions and heard evidence from over 100 witnesses, including government officials, industry representatives, domestic producers and non-governmental organisations, before issuing its decision.
The U.S. government added that countries such as Cambodia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago introduced forced labour import bans during the investigation, while Jordan committed to adopting similar measures through an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade.
The notice also outlines exemptions for certain products, including informational materials, donated goods, accompanied baggage, items already covered by Section 232 tariffs, and specific goods listed in annexes where additional duties could disrupt U.S. supply chains or would be ineffective in addressing the concerns.
