US imposes 12.5% tariff on Nigerian imports over forced labour claims

The United States has implemented a 12.5% tariff on imports from Nigeria and 59 other nations, citing their failure to prohibit goods produced with forced labor. This new trade measure, announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, targets economies that have not "imposed and effectively enforced a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour."

Nigeria is subject to the higher 12.5% tariff, while countries such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom will face a lower 10% rate. This distinction is due to these nations having adopted or committed to implementing bans on imports linked to forced labor.

The tariffs follow investigations launched in May 2026 by the USTR into 60 of the U.S.'s largest trading partners. The agency gathered extensive public input, including over 1,600 written submissions and testimony from more than 100 witnesses, alongside consultations with over 45 governments.

According to a Federal Register notice, the USTR determined that a 10% tariff is appropriate for economies that have imposed or committed to forced labor import prohibitions, or have implemented partial regimes to prevent such imports. For all other investigated economies, including Nigeria, a 12.5% tariff is deemed appropriate, with specified exemptions for certain products.