US Slaps 12.5% Tariff on Nigerian Imports Over Forced Labour Concerns

The United States has imposed a 12.5 per cent tariff on imports from Nigeria, citing concerns over the country’s failure to prohibit and effectively enforce restrictions against goods produced with forced labour.

The measure, announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), places Nigeria among 60 economies subjected to new trade measures following investigations into their policies on forced labour imports.

Under the new policy, Nigeria will face a 12.5 per cent tariff on covered products entering the United States, although the USTR said certain goods would be excluded under specified exemptions.

The decision followed investigations initiated by the USTR in May 2026 under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The investigations focused on whether major trading partners had adopted and effectively enforced measures preventing the importation of goods produced through forced labour.

According to the USTR, the process involved extensive consultations, including more than 1,600 written submissions, testimony from over 100 witnesses and discussions with more than 45 governments.

The agency said countries that had already introduced forced labour import prohibitions, or had committed to doing so, would generally face a lower tariff rate of 10 per cent.

India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and the United Kingdom were listed among countries that would attract the 10 per cent rate after adopting, partially implementing or committing to introduce measures restricting imports linked to forced labour.

For Nigeria, however, the USTR determined that a 12.5 per cent tariff was appropriate based on the findings of its investigation and the country's existing policy framework.

In a Federal Register notice, the USTR said the tariff would apply to Nigerian products except for goods covered by specified exemptions under Annex I and Annex II, Part A, of the notice.

“Based on the findings in the investigation of Nigeria, considering the public comments, testimony, and the advice of the Section 301 Committee, as well as the advice of advisory committees, and in accordance with the specific direction of the President, the Trade Representative has determined to impose 12.5 percent tariffs on products of Nigeria, except as provided in Annex I and Annex II, Part A, of this Notice,” the agency said.

The USTR added that the tariff rate and the scope of the exemptions were determined to be appropriate measures for addressing the practices identified during the investigation.

The latest action comes amid a broader shift in Washington’s trade policy under President Donald Trump, whose administration has increasingly used tariffs as a tool to influence the trade and labour policies of other countries.

The USTR said the new measures were intended to encourage affected trading partners to adopt stronger safeguards against forced labour and prevent products made under exploitative conditions from entering their markets.

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the policy reflected the Trump administration’s view that previous international efforts had failed to eliminate forced labour from global supply chains.

“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.”

The USTR said the United States had maintained restrictions on imports linked to forced labour for decades and was seeking similar commitments from its trading partners.

The agency's action also followed President Trump’s invocation of Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a temporary universal tariff on imports, after a United States Supreme Court ruling blocked his administration’s broader tariff plan that had been based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

However, the 12.5 per cent measure targeting Nigerian imports is not expected to apply indiscriminately to every product shipped from Nigeria to the United States.

The USTR identified categories of goods that could qualify for exemptions, including certain raw materials where tariffs could create domestic supply shortages in the United States.

Other potential exemptions cover products whose import restrictions could trigger wider economic disruptions, goods that are not available in sufficient quantities within the United States or from alternative suppliers, and selected imports from countries that have adopted or pledged to implement forced labour import prohibitions.

The agency also said exemptions could be granted where it determined that imposing tariffs would be unlikely to achieve the objective of eliminating the trade practices identified during the investigation.

The new tariff could have implications for Nigerian businesses and exporters with significant exposure to the United States market, particularly those whose products fall within the scope of the affected categories.

However, the actual impact on Nigeria’s exports will depend on the products covered by the tariff, the exemptions contained in the USTR notice and the ability of affected Nigerian exporters to meet any additional compliance requirements.

The development also places renewed focus on Nigeria’s labour standards, supply-chain practices and trade relationship with the United States, as businesses and policymakers assess the potential economic consequences of the new measure.

For Nigerian exporters, the immediate priority will be determining which products are affected, which qualify for exemptions and what additional steps may be required to maintain access to the United States market.

The USTR's decision is part of Washington's broader effort to use trade policy to pressure countries to strengthen their laws and enforcement mechanisms against forced labour in global supply chains.