The United States government, through its US Trade Representative (USTR), has condemned Nigeria for its sweeping ban on 25 categories of imported goods.
The Trump administration says the action is detrimental to American exporters and constitutes an unfair trade practice.
In a newly released report highlighting what it deems the top 10 trade barriers faced by U.S. businesses globally, the USTR said Nigeria’s import restrictions, citing them as a significant obstacle to market access and trade fairness.
Among the banned items are key American export products including beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits. The USTR warned that these prohibitions are not only restricting access to Nigeria’s growing consumer market but are also eroding potential export revenue for U.S. producers.
The rebuke comes amid rising global trade tensions, with the U.S. itself under scrutiny for imposing tariffs on several countries.
agency argues that these limitations reduce export opportunities for US businesses and lead to lost revenue.
“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts U.S. exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
“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 via its X handle.
In 2016, Nigeria implemented the ban on these 25 items as part of efforts to control imports and stimulate local production.
Some of the banned items include poultry, pork, refined vegetable oil, sugar, cocoa products, spaghetti, beer, and certain medicines.
On March 26, 2025, the Federal Government also announced plans to halt solar panel imports to encourage local manufacturing as part of its push for clean energy.
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US Government Condemns Nigeria for Banning 25 Categories of Imported Goods
