US President Donald Trump (Photo by ALEX WONG / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
The United States has announced 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 measures, announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative on Thursday, impose tariffs of either 10 per cent or 12.5 per cent, depending on each country’s forced labour import policies.
According to the USTR, the decision followed investigations launched in May 2026 under Section 301 of the Trade Act into 60 of the United States’ largest trading partners.
The agency said it received more than 1,600 public submissions, held hearings involving over 100 witnesses, and consulted more than 45 governments before announcing the tariffs. Related News Morning recap: Reps approve state police bill, US imposes 12.5% tariff on Nigerian imports, other top stories US imposes 12.5% tariff on Nigerian imports over forced labour claims N’East must do more against terrorism, banditry — Tinubu
