Nigeria is among 60 economies that could face new trade penalties from the United States following findings that they have failed to adequately prohibit or enforce restrictions on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
The proposed action, announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), could result in an additional 12.5 per cent tariff on Nigerian exports to the U.S., raising the country's effective tariff rate to 27.5 per cent when combined with the existing 10 per cent baseline duty under President Donald Trump’s reciprocal trade policy.
The USTR said its determination followed investigations conducted under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, which examined whether trading partners had taken sufficient measures to prevent goods linked to forced labour from entering their markets.
According to the agency, the affected economies have either failed to establish import bans on such products or have not effectively enforced existing restrictions, thereby creating unfair competitive advantages and placing American businesses at a disadvantage.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration was determined to ensure that international trade practices do not reward exploitative labour conditions.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable,” Greer said.
He noted that while some countries have begun implementing measures to curb the trade in forced-labour goods, more comprehensive action is required to create a level playing field for workers and businesses.
Nigeria was listed among 54 economies found to have neither imposed nor effectively enforced prohibitions against imports produced with forced labour.
Other African countries included in the findings are Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and South Africa.
The report also identified major economies across Asia, Europe and the Americas, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Brazil, Argentina, Israel and the United Kingdom.
In addition, the USTR said six economies — Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Pakistan, Ecuador and the European Union — have existing legal frameworks addressing forced labour imports but have failed to enforce them adequately.
As part of the proposed measures, countries that already maintain or have committed to implementing forced labour import prohibitions would face an additional 10 per cent duty on exports to the U.S.
However, economies deemed not to have such safeguards in place could be subjected to a higher 12.5 per cent tariff.
The USTR is also considering a special provision for textile and apparel imports that would allow limited volumes from certain countries to enter the U.S. market at a lower tariff rate.
The investigations, launched in March 2026, drew extensive participation from stakeholders. The agency said it reviewed testimony from nearly 60 witnesses and examined roughly 500 written submissions and rebuttals before reaching its conclusions.
Although the tariff proposal remains subject to a public consultation process and has not yet been implemented, trade observers say it could have significant implications for countries that depend on access to the American market.
For Nigeria, the outcome of the review could affect exporters already grappling with rising global trade barriers and shifting international trade policies.
The USTR maintained that the proposed duties are intended specifically to address labour-related trade concerns and strengthen efforts to combat forced labour in global supply chains.
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