America slaps 12.5% duty on goods from Nigeria amid allegations of coerced workforce practices

The United States has introduced a new trade measure, imposing a 12.5 per cent tariff on imports from Nigeria, citing the country's failure to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labour, as part of a broader initiative targeting 60 economies.

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These 60 economies, according to Washington, have not effectively enforced a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour, prompting the tariff, which affects a wide range of imports.

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The measure was announced on the website of the Office of the United States Trade Representative on Thursday, outlining the specifics of the new tariff structure.

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Nigeria is among the countries facing the 12.5 per cent tariff, while countries such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom will face a lower 10 per cent rate, having adopted or committed to implement bans on imports linked to forced labour.

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This move follows investigations launched by the USTR in May 2026 into 60 of the United States' largest trading partners under Section 301 of the Trade Act, which aimed to assess their compliance with forced labour regulations.

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The agency received over 1,600 written submissions, held public hearings involving more than 100 witnesses, and consulted with over 45 governments before announcing the tariffs, ensuring a thorough examination of the issue.

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According to the USTR, countries that have implemented or committed to implementing forced labour import prohibitions will attract a 10 per cent tariff, as outlined in the agency's statement.

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The USTR specified that a 10 per cent tariff would apply to countries including Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom.

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A Federal Register notice explained that a 10 per cent or 12.5 per cent tariff, net of Most-Favored-Nation rate, would apply to certain products from the European Union, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland, with specific exemptions outlined.

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The notice also stated that 12.5 per cent is the applicable rate of Section 301 duty for all other investigated economies, providing clarity on the tariff structure.

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Regarding Nigeria, a Federal Register notice obtained from the USTR on Friday stated that the country would be subjected to a 12.5 per cent tariff on its products, with exceptions for items listed under specified exemptions.

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The notice read that the Trade Representative has determined to impose 12.5 per cent tariffs on products of Nigeria, except as provided in Annex I and Annex II, Part A, of the notice, based on the findings of the investigation and public comments.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the action aims to encourage trading partners to strengthen measures against forced labour, emphasizing the need for collective action.

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Greer noted that President Trump recognizes that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labour from global supply chains, highlighting the need for more concrete measures.

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The USTR clarified that the tariffs would not apply to certain products, including raw materials that could create domestic supply shortages, goods that could cause economy-wide disruptions, and products unavailable in sufficient quantities in the United States or from alternative sources.

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Further exemptions were granted where the tariffs were deemed unlikely to eliminate the trade practices under investigation, ensuring a nuanced approach to the issue.