The United States has imposed new tariffs on imports from 60 economies, including Nigeria, over what it described as their failure to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
The new measures, announced on Thursday by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), introduce tariffs of 10 per cent or 12.5 per cent, depending on each country’s policies on preventing forced labour-linked imports.
Nigeria is among the countries that will face the higher 12.5 per cent tariff, alongside China, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Countries that have adopted, or committed to adopt, stronger restrictions on imports linked to forced labour will attract the lower 10 per cent tariff.
According to the USTR, the decision followed investigations launched in May 2026 under Section 301 of the US Trade Act into the forced labour import policies of 60 of America’s largest trading partners.
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The agency said the review involved more than 1,600 public submissions, hearings with over 100 witnesses, and consultations with 45 governments before the tariffs were approved.
Countries affected by the 12.5 per cent tariff include Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, Hong Kong, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam.
Countries attracting the 10 per cent tariff include Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom.
For the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan, the USTR clarified that the new tariffs will apply net of existing Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff rates.
The USTR said not all imports from the affected countries will attract the new tariffs.
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Several categories of products are exempt, including goods already subject to separate US national security tariffs, products covered under existing trade preference programmes, and certain strategic commodities identified by the US government.
The agency said the exemptions were designed to minimise disruption to critical supply chains while encouraging countries to strengthen measures preventing goods made with forced labour from entering global markets.
The new tariffs are expected to affect exporters in the listed countries seeking access to the US market, particularly manufacturers and suppliers whose products do not qualify for the exemptions.
