Photo credit: The Punch
2025-12-22 09:00:00
Figures cited by *The Punch* show Nigeria’s exports to the United States have taken a major hit in the wake of higher US tariffs, with the report estimating a roughly ₦1tn-scale export loss and a sharper trade imbalance.
The data-driven argument is that once tariffs rise, marginal cargoes—especially non-oil shipments—lose competitiveness quickly, while buyers switch to alternative suppliers.
Economists warn that tariff pressure can ripple beyond customs: export earnings affect FX inflows, port activity, manufacturing orders, and jobs tied to the export chain.
The story also revives an old weakness—Nigeria’s narrow export basket—where shocks to market access translate fast into national revenue and FX volatility.
BusinessDay reported that “Nigerian exports to the United States will now attract a 15 percent tariff,” while Nigeria Info FM similarly reported exports “will now face a 15% tariff” following an executive order—supporting the tariff-change backbone of the Punch analysis.
**Echotitbits take:** The policy response can’t be vibes: Nigeria must diversify export destinations, improve standards compliance, and negotiate carve-outs where possible. Watch for whether Abuja pursues targeted trade diplomacy—or quietly absorbs the loss and shifts focus to other markets.
Source: The Punch — December 22, 2025 (https://punchng.com/nigeria-suffers-nearly-n1tn-export-loss-after-trump-tariff/)
