The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has criticized Nigeria’s ban on the importation of 25 items, stating that the measure restricts market access for American exporters.
This development follows nearly a week after President Donald Trump unveiled broad tariffs on imports into the US, with Nigeria receiving a 14 percent rate.
In a post shared on X on Monday, the USTR pointed out what it called “unfair trade practices faced by American exporters”.
“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts U.S. exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods,” the agency said.
“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 USTR warned that the policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for US businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market.”
In 2016, Nigeria’s government prohibited the importation of 25 specific items in a bid to manage its import levels.
Among the banned products are live or dead birds, including frozen poultry, pork, and beef; bird eggs; refined vegetable oil; cane or beet sugar; chemically pure sucrose in solid form; cocoa butter, powder, and cakes; spaghetti and noodles; and fruit juice in retail packs.
Other restricted items include water and other non-alcoholic drinks, beer and stout, bagged cement, medicaments, waste pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, mosquito repellent coils, plastic sanitary wares, rethreaded and used pneumatic tyres, corrugated paper and boards, and recharge cards and vouchers.
The complete list of banned products can be accessed here.
On March 26, 2025, the federal government announced that it is working towards ending solar panel imports to encourage local production and support Nigeria’s shift to clean energy.
