In the first half of 2026, Chinese imports from Nigeria reached approximately $2.25 billion, an 81 percent increase year-on-year. On May 1, China extended zero-tariff treatment across all tariff lines to products originating from Nigeria and 52 other African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.
It would be premature to attribute the entire increase to the tariff policy. But the direction is unmistakable: China is increasingly using market access as an instrument of economic statecraft.
Washington should take notice. Nigeria should too.
The case for a commercial reset
The comparison with the United States is instructive. U.S. Census Bureau data show that between January and June 2026, the United States imported approximately $1.8 billion in goods from Nigeria, while exporting about $2.9 billion to Nigeria.
