By Stonix News
WASHINGTON — Nigeria is among 60 nations hit by a fresh wave of US tariffs that took effect today, as the Trump administration rolls out sweeping duties ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent on major trading partners including China, India, and the European Union.
The new levies, which replace an expiring global duty, place Nigeria in the higher 12.5 percent bracket alongside China, Russia, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, and dozens of others, according to a full list released by US Trade.
The measures have sparked swift condemnation from target countries, with Beijing warning that trade wars are “not in the interests of any party” and Australia’s trade minister calling the duties “unjustified.”
Economies that have implemented a forced labour import prohibition or committed to doing so — including Canada, the EU, India, and the United Kingdom — were hit with the lower 10 percent rate. However, Nigeria, along with Algeria, Angola, Egypt, and 42 other nations, was deemed to deserve the higher tariff under what officials described as the “standard rate” category.
The European Union, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland received some relief in line with trade pacts previously reached with the United States, with total duties capped at either 10 or 12.5 percent depending on existing most-favoured-nation rates.
Goods already facing sector-specific tariffs like steel and aluminium will not be impacted by the new measures, while certain energy products and fertilisers will also be exempt, alongside products covered by the US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact.
The Trump administration moved swiftly to rebuild the president’s tariff wall after the Supreme Court struck down a host of his duties in February, dealing a blow to his ability to unleash steep levies at will. After that setback, Trump tapped different authorities to reimpose a 10 percent tariff on imports, but that measure only lasted 150 days and expired on Friday.
The volley of new duties, initially proposed in June, was planned following a months-long investigation and is considered more resistant to legal challenges than earlier moves, US officials said.
The administration is separately investigating 16 economies over excess industrial capacity in probes that could lead to additional duties, with experts warning this could eventually result in varying rates among countries.
Trump also ordered new 50 percent tariffs on many Canadian products this week, citing Ottawa’s “discriminatory treatment” of American alcohol, automobile, and dairy products — signalling that US tariff deals remain fragile, analysts said.
Nigeria’s inclusion in the higher tariff bracket raises concerns about the potential impact on the country’s exports to the United States, one of its major trading partners. The full implications for Nigerian businesses and the broader economy remain to be seen as stakeholders assess the fallout from Washington’s latest protectionist move.
