Nigerian exporters are raising alarm over what they describe as an unprecedented wave of rejections by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which they say has refused entry to more than 70 percent of shipments originating from Nigeria.
The exporters attribute the situation to the full enforcement of President Donald Trump’s 14 percent tariff policy, which took effect on April 2, 2025.
Ini Daniel, Chief Commercial Officer of AAJ Express Logistics Limited, said exporters are now facing serious hurdles shipping goods into the U.S., as cargo and courier companies grapple with clearance bottlenecks, throwing exporters into crisis.
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) had earlier reported a 24.4 percent decline in export activities for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This represents a 6.4 percent drop from the last quarter of 2024, despite a sharp 348 percent surge in export volume to 5.03 billion kilogrammes year-on-year.
Daniel explained that the fallout has led to widespread delays and immense strain on shippers and importers dependent on the U.S. market. The chaos has rippled into the airline sector, where carriers have been forced to offer major discounts and even free returns due to the uncertainty surrounding tariff compliance.
He also lamented the lack of clear communication from U.S. officials, leaving exporters confused and unable to plan effectively.
“This challenge is not peculiar to Nigeria alone; exporters from European nations, China, and other African countries are also being affected by the new regulations,” Daniel added.
Industry experts are now urging Nigerian exporters to consider suspending shipments to the United States until clearer guidelines are issued by U.S. Customs authorities.
Meanwhile, exporters remain anxious, hoping for swift clarification and a resolution that would restore smooth trading relations with the U.S.
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