The United States has reduced its purchases of Nigerian goods by about $615m in the first eight months of this year following the introduction of new tariffs by President Donald Trump, fresh trade data from the US Census Bureau has shown.
The figures indicate that American imports of Nigeria-sourced goods fell from $4.197bn between January and August 2024 to $3.582bn in the corresponding period of 2025, representing a year-on-year decline of 14.7 per cent. The drop coincides with Washington’s implementation of its “reciprocal” tariff regime, under which Trump signed an executive order raising Nigeria’s tariff rate from 14 per cent to 15 per cent.
The order, issued late July, took effect on August 7, 2025. Although crude oil has been exempted in several cases, the higher duty applies directly to a wide range of non-oil Nigerian exports, creating uncertainty for American importers and dampening demand ahead of and after the effective date.
The monthly figures show that US importers significantly cut back before the tariff rate was applied. In July 2025, American purchases of Nigerian goods fell to $379m from $673m in July 2024, a 43.7 per cent decline of $294m.
Imports recovered slightly in August, rising to $442m from $382m in the same month of 2024, an increase of 15.7 per cent. However, the mild August rebound was not enough to offset the earlier weakness that pulled down the year-to-date totals.
In contrast, the United States exported far more goods to Nigeria. US exports to the country rose sharply from $3.169bn in the first eight months of 2024 to $4.751bn in the same period of 2025, an increase of $1.582bn or 49.9 per cent. The surge was driven partly by a major rise in August exports, which climbed to $830m from $230m in August 2024.
The $600m expansion represents a 260.9 per cent increase, giving American suppliers a stronger presence in the Nigerian market just as US import demand for Nigerian goods weakened. July exports were more modest, rising from $576m in 2024 to $584m in 2025, a 1.4 per cent increase.
The shifts have significantly altered the bilateral goods balance. The August 2024 position of a $152m US goods deficit with Nigeria flipped to a $388m surplus in August 2025. Year-to-date, the United States moved from a $1.028bn deficit in 2024 to a $1.169bn surplus in 2025, a swing of $2.197bn within one year.
For Nigeria, the data indicate lower revenue from US purchases and a widening gap in favour of American exporters. The regional figures reinforce Nigeria’s outlier status within Africa. US imports from Africa as a whole rose from $26.403bn to $31.453bn year-on-year, an increase of $5.05bn or 19.1 per cent.
By contrast, imports from Nigeria fell by 14.7 per cent, reducing the country’s share of America’s Africa-sourced imports from 15.9 per cent in 2024 to 11.4 per cent in 2025.
Other African partners recorded stronger performances. US imports from Egypt rose from $1.712bn to $1.974bn, while imports from South Africa increased from $9.273bn to $12.489bn. US exports to both countries also climbed, reflecting broader trade expansion with the continent.
The decline in US imports of Nigerian goods, alongside the sharp rise in US exports to Nigeria, underscores a structural shift in the trade relationship. While the United States has benefited from expanded access to the Nigerian market, Nigerian exporters have lost ground in the American market.
Earlier in September, President Bola Tinubu said his administration will remain resilient and has no fear of the trade policy direction of U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly tariffs targeting Nigerian exports.
The President cited Nigeria’s current economic trajectory and growing non-oil revenues as buffers against external shocks. Tinubu said, “If non-oil revenue is growing, then we have no fear of whatever Trump is doing on the other side.”
Also, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the country would not be stampeded into retaliatory action but would continue on its path of reform and diversification. “Nigeria remains responsive; we’re not reacting. We’re focused on the eight-point agenda of President Bola Tinubu. We will continue to support domestic investors and expand market access for Nigerian businesses,” Oduwole said.
She noted that while the United States remains an important trade partner, Nigeria is strengthening its African Continental Free Trade Area strategy and boosting non-oil exports, which grew by 24 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025.
“It’s mostly an energy trading relationship, but we are waiting to see what happens with AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) in September. We are also growing exports to other African countries and expanding partnerships with Brazil, China, Japan, and the UAE,” she added.
The minister stressed that Nigeria would seize opportunities for South–South cooperation, pursue export diversification, and reduce dependence on the American market.
Development economist and Chief Executive Officer of CSA Advisory, Dr Aliyu Ilias, said Nigeria should view the current trade situation as an opportunity to adapt. “I think it’s a good time that this is happening to Nigeria. Trump’s tariff is not only for Nigeria. The advantage is that we are now exporting more overall, which is positive for us,” he said.
Ilias argued that Nigeria could use its position within BRICS and other international alliances to reduce vulnerability and build resilience. He added that with other countries such as India and China also facing US tariffs, Nigeria had an opening to forge new partnerships.
“We also have to start being on our own. We can trade with other partners and see, because other partners are also looking for partners. The tariff that is affecting us is also affecting others, so it may be a good opportunity,” he added.
Similarly, renowned economist and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, downplayed the impact of the US tariffs on Nigeria. “Our trade with the US is not that strategic. When anything goes wrong, it is not as if it can have any fundamental effect on our economy. Our trade exposure to them is very limited,” Yusuf explained.
He noted that Nigerian exports to the US are dominated by crude oil and a handful of other commodities such as fertilisers, making the country’s trade profile narrow and underdeveloped in non-oil areas. Yusuf added that Nigeria’s tariff exposure is relatively moderate compared with other countries.
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