Concerns as US Rejects Shipments From Nigeria After Donald Trump's Tariff Policy

• Airports have either refused entry or placed more than 70% of cargo from Nigeria to the US on hold
• This has been the situation ever since the implementation of Donald Trump's tariff policy
• This presented serious problems for exporters and importers doing business in the US market

Legit.ng journalist Zainab Iwayemi has 5-year-experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.

Since Donald Trump's tariff policy was put into effect, over 70% of shipments from Nigeria to the United States have either been denied entrance or put on hold at airports.

This worrying trend has resulted in significant delays, posing major issues for importers and shippers operating in the US market, according to Ini Daniel, chief commercial officer of AAJ Express Logistics Limited, who made the announcement yesterday.

He said:

“Nigeria’s exporters are grappling with unprecedented challenges in shipping goods to the United States following the full enforcement of Trump’s new tariff regulations on April 2nd, 2025. Reports reveal that cargo and courier companies are facing severe difficulties with clearance into the U.S., resulting in a crisis for exporters.

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“The turmoil has been felt acutely within the airline industry, where carriers are now forced to offer significant discounts or even free returns due to the chaos surrounding tariff enforcement. Adding to the frustration, exporters are left in a fog of confusion, as officials have not provided clear explanations for the refusals.”

He stated that the problem was not unique to Nigeria, noting that the new rules also affected exporters from China, other African nations, and several European countries.

In light of the situation, he advised Nigerian exporters to temporarily suspend shipments to the United States until US Customs established clearer guidelines.

Exporters remained eager for clarification on the new requirements and a resolution that would enable them to resume smooth trading operations with the United States, as uncertainty continued to loom.

Trump's new tariff policy impact on Africa

Legit.ng earlier reported that Africa's economic ties with the United States are poised to undergo a significant shift following the announcement of President Donald Trump's new tariff policy.

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The plan, which targets over 180 countries, includes several African nations. The new tariff strategy, described by Trump as "kind," seeks to address foreign tariffs, trade barriers, and alleged currency manipulation that the U.S. claims have hindered its businesses.

As noted by the White House in a post shared via X, countries without specific trade agreements with the US will now face a 10% baseline tariff on all imports into the U.S.

The idea behind reciprocal tariffs is straightforward: if a country imposes high tariffs on U.S. goods, the U.S. will respond with a similar tariff on goods from that country.

For African nations like South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, which maintain longstanding trade agreements with the U.S., this policy could drastically alter their economic relations with the U.S.

Chinese manufacturers ignore US, turn to Nigeria

Legit.ng earlier reported that China's product manufacturers shifted their focus to Nigeria and other emerging countries after US President Donald Trump imposed trade tariffs on their goods.

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Trump launched bilateral trade talks with roughly 75 nations on April 2, 2025, and imposed a 46% tariff on Vietnam and a 17% charge on the Philippines.

He then reduced both tariffs to 10% for the following three months. Manufacturers claim that U.S. orders for their products have disappeared since Washington increased duties on Chinese imports by 145%.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng