Nigeria has been listed among 60 economies facing fresh trade sanctions from the United States over alleged failure to prohibit and enforce bans on goods produced with forced labour, a move that could significantly increase tariffs on Nigerian exports to the American market.
Key Highlights:
- The U.S. Trade Representative flagged Nigeria among 60 economies over alleged failure to curb forced-labour imports.
- The move could impose an additional 12.5% tariff, raising total U.S. tariffs on Nigerian exports to 27.5%.
- The decision follows findings under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974.
- Other affected countries include China, India, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
- The proposal is still under consultation and has not yet taken effect.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced on Tuesday that investigations conducted under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 found that Nigeria and dozens of other economies had failed to effectively prevent the importation of goods made with forced labour.
According to the USTR, the failure of the affected economies to address forced labour-related imports constitutes an unreasonable practice that places a burden on U.S. commerce.
If the proposal is approved after a public consultation process, Nigeria could be subjected to an additional 12.5 per cent tariff on exports to the United States. This would be added to the existing 10 per cent baseline tariff imposed under President Donald Trump’s reciprocal trade framework, raising the total tariff burden on Nigerian exports to 27.5 per cent.
Announcing the decision, U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer said the continued importation of goods produced through forced labour by America’s trading partners was unacceptable.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable. This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an uneven playing field,” Greer said.
“We will no longer tolerate this disparity. Some trading partners have taken initial steps to prevent the importation of forced labour goods, including through the USMCA and commitments in Agreements on Reciprocal Trade. However, each of our trading partners must do more to ensure that trade does not perversely encourage and entrench forced labour globally.”
The report identified Nigeria among 54 economies found to have neither imposed nor effectively enforced restrictions on imports linked to forced labour.
Other African countries named include Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and South Africa.
The USTR argued that the absence of effective import restrictions undermines global efforts to eliminate forced labour and gives businesses benefiting from exploitative labour practices an unfair competitive advantage.
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Several major U.S. trading partners across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas were also affected by the findings. These include China, India, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Kingdom.
The agency also faulted six economies — Canada, Ecuador, European Union, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan — for allegedly failing to effectively enforce existing prohibitions on forced labour imports.
Under the proposed measures, economies that have adopted or committed to adopting forced labour import bans would face an additional 10 per cent tariff, while countries such as Nigeria could be hit with a 12.5 per cent levy.
The USTR disclosed that the investigations began on March 12, 2026, and included testimony from nearly 60 witnesses as well as approximately 500 written submissions and rebuttals.
Although the tariffs have not yet taken effect, analysts say the proposal could have major implications for Nigeria’s export sector and broader trade relations with the United States if eventually implemented.
