In a major trade policy move, President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has announced a 15% tariffs on all exports from Ghana, sparking concerns over U.S.-Africa trade relations and potential economic fallout.
The new tariff, which will take effect seven days from the date of the order, applies to all Ghanaian goods entering the U.S. It forms part of sweeping trade actions targeting dozens of countries deemed to have misaligned trade practices relative to American interests.
Ghana now joins a list of trading partners the U.S. considers insufficiently cooperative in aligning tariffs and trade policies with those of the United States.
According to the executive order, the purpose of the tariff is to ensure reciprocity in trade, safeguard American manufacturing, and bolster national security.
Lesotho, the small landlocked country in Southern Africa, has seen its initially proposed 50% U.S. tariff—the highest among African nations—reduced to 15% in the final announcement.
The revised rate offers modest relief to Lesotho’s fragile economy, which relies heavily on textile exports to the United States. The country had declared a national state of disaster in July, citing the economic strain from the proposed tariffs, which had already led to mass layoffs and factory shutdowns.
In contrast, South Africa—Africa’s most industrialised economy—was hit with an unchanged 30% tariff. South African Trade Minister Parks Tau described the decision as a severe setback for the country’s export-led industries.
The United States remains South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China, with key exports including vehicles, iron and steel products, and citrus fruits.
Elsewhere, Nigeria experienced a minor increase in its tariff rate, rising from 14% to 15% under the updated trade framework.
Here’s a comprehensive list of African countries affected by Trump’s tariff policy announced which imposed a universal 15% baseline tariff on imports.
| Rank | Country | New tariff | April tariff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Algeria | 30% | 30% |
| 2 | Libya | 30% | 31% |
| 3 | South Africa | 30% | 30% |
| 4 | Tunisia | 25% | 28% |
| 5 | Angola | 15% | 32% |
| 6 | Botswana | 15% | 37% |
| 7 | Cameroon | 15% | 11% |
| 8 | Chad | 15% | 13% |
| 9 | Côte d’Ivoire | 15% | 21% |
| 10 | DRC | 15% | 11% |
| 11 | Equatorial Guinea | 15% | 13% |
| 12 | Ghana | 15% | 10% |
| 13 | Lesotho | 15% | 50% |
| 14 | Madagascar | 15% | 47% |
| 15 | Malawi | 15% | 17% |
| 16 | Mauritius | 15% | 40% |
| 17 | Mozambique | 15% | 16% |
| 18 | Namibia | 15% | 21% |
| 19 | Nigeria | 15% | 14% |
| 20 | Uganda | 15% | 10% |
| 21 | Zambia | 15% | 17% |
| 22 | Zimbabwe | 15% | 18% |
