US Fumes at Nigeria’s Import Ban on 25 Items, Demands Review
Nigeria’s import ban on 25 categories of goods is limiting market access for American exporters, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has expressed concern.
This is coming a week after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on goods entering the US, with Nigeria getting 14 per cent.
Recall, the Nigerian government in 2016 banned 25 items from importation as part of efforts to control imports.
The items include live or dead birds including frozen poultry, pork and beef, bird eggs, refined vegetable oil, cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form; cocoa butter, powder and cakes, spaghetti and noodles, and fruit juice in retail packs.
Other banned items include water, other non-alcoholic beverages, beer and stout; bagged cement, medicament, waste pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, mosquito repellent coils, sanitary wares of plastics, rethreaded and used pneumatics tyres, corrugated paper and paper boards, and recharge cards and vouchers.
On March 26, 2025, the federal government said plans are underway to halt the importation of solar panels to promote local manufacturing and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to clean energy.
However, in a post on X on Monday, the US agency highlighted the impacts of the government’s import ban, describing it as “Unfair trade practices faced by American exporters.”
The agency said, “Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts U.S. exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages and consumer goods.”
The USTR warned that the policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for US businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market.
“Restrictions on items like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits limit U.S. market access and reduce export opportunities.
“These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for U.S. businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market,” the agency said.
Apart from Nigeria, the US agency also named India, Thailand, Kenya, Angola, Algeria, and the European Union for various trade restrictions that collectively impact billions of dollars in potential U.S. exports.
These include India’s ethanol import ban, Kenya’s 50% tariff on U.S. corn, and the EU’s new environmental compliance rules, which the USTR argues disadvantage American producers.
Angola’s recent announcement to restrict import licenses for poultry and meat products by July 2025 also drew attention, given that Angola is the largest market for U.S. poultry on the African continent.
The USTR emphasised that such practices threaten the viability of American businesses, from farmers and fishers to manufacturers and pharmaceutical firms.
In some cases, the agency linked the impact of these restrictions to job losses and the closure of businesses across the United States.
The USTR slammed China in particular for mass-producing American flags, thus causing losses for American manufacturers.
“Over 100,000 Chinese-made American flags are sold every month on just one e-commerce platform alone, resulting in $2 million in lost sales for American manufacturers, which ultimately leads to lost job opportunities and business closures.
“American flags should be Made in America,” it stated.
The USTR said India also banned imports of U.S. ethanol for fuel use, similar to what Thailand did by restricting imports of fuel ethanol, requiring approval and issuance permit.
