Trump Imposes Sweeping Tariffs, Threatening Nigeria’s U.S. Exports
BY, springnewsng media limited April 4,2025
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 10 percent baseline tariff on imports from all countries, with higher rates targeting nations with trade surpluses, including Nigeria.
Dubbed “Liberation Day,” the move aims to boost U.S. manufacturing and penalize countries Trump accuses of unfair trade practices.
In 2023, Nigeria exported $6.29 billion worth of goods to the U.S. while importing $3 billion, leaving America with a $3.29 billion trade deficit. The new tariffs could significantly impact Nigeria’s key exports, particularly crude petroleum ($4.73 billion), petroleum gas, and fertilizers.
The move comes as the U.S. recently began importing jet fuel from Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, with six vessels carrying 1.7 million barrels arriving this month.
Trump justified the tariffs, declaring, “Our country has been looted, pillaged, raped, plundered… But it is not going to happen anymore.” He has declared a national economic emergency, expecting the tariffs to generate hundreds of billions in annual revenue.
Alongside the 10 percent baseline, the U.S. will impose higher tariffs on major economies: 34 percent on China, 20 percent on the European Union, 25 percent on South Korea, 24 percent on Japan, and 32 percent on Taiwan.
Nigeria now faces potential economic fallout, with its exports to the U.S. at risk under Trump’s aggressive trade policy.
