The United States has imposed a 12.5 percent tariff on exports from Nigeria and seven other African countries, saying they failed to curb forced labour in their supply chains. The measure, announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, is part of a broader action targeting 38 economies accused of not enforcing bans on goods produced with forced labour.
The African countries affected include Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and South Africa. USTR officials said the governments have not adopted or enforced rules strong enough to stop forced‑labour goods from entering their markets, giving producers in those countries an unfair advantage.
Unlike previous Section 301 actions aimed at correcting trade imbalances, the new tariff is focused specifically on labour‑related violations. The USTR said countries that allow forced‑labour goods into their markets distort global competition by enabling cheaper products to move through supply chains, undercutting American workers and businesses.
The agency argued that the lapse harms U.S. commerce by exposing American producers to unfair competition at home and abroad. It also said the practice diverts ethically produced goods away from foreign markets and into the United States, further burdening American industries.
Announcing the decision, U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer said the administration believes stronger action is needed to confront forced labour worldwide. “President Trump recognizes that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labour from global supply chains,” Greer said, adding that the tariff is intended to push governments to enforce meaningful protections.
The move marks one of Washington’s most aggressive steps yet to pressure trading partners on labour standards, signaling that forced‑labour enforcement is becoming a central pillar of U.S. trade policy.
