USA slams Nigeria’s import bans on 25 products

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has berated Nigeria for imposing an import ban on 25 different product categories, which is impacting American exporters.

Coming at a time tensions are rising over the sweeping tariffs imposed on several countries by the U.S., the trade body described the import ban by Nigeria as one of the 10 unfair trade practices perpetrated against the U.S. by different nations.

The USTR said import restrictions placed on items like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits limit U.S. market access and reduce export opportunities.

“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts U.S. exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods,

“These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for U.S. businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market,” the USTR stated in a post on X highlighting what it described as unfair trade practices against the U.S.

Nigeria is not alone in facing criticism from Washington. The USTR’s post 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 emphasized 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.