Trump Removes 15% Tariff on Ghanaian Exports to US: “Additional Revenue Of US$60 Million”
- The US has lifted the 15% tariff that was imposed on cocoa and certain agricultural products
- The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced this update in a statement online
- The government of Ghana has welcomed the tariff removal announcement, describing it as a major boost
Ghana’s top stories, now easier to find. Discover our new search feature!
The government has said the 15% tariff imposed on Ghana’s cocoa and selected agricultural exports to the US has been fully removed.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said US diplomats formally communicated the decision to Ghana’s Mission in Washington, D.C.
Source: Facebook
In a Facebook post, Ablakwa said the reversal took effect on November 13, 2025, following the signing of a new Executive Order by US President Donald Trump.
The tariff removal rolls back a policy introduced during the Trump administration, which started at 10% for Ghana. There was initially a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries.
After initial worries and concerns, the government has welcomed the announcement, describing it as a major boost to one of Ghana’s most strategic export sectors.
Ablakwa added that Ghana and the US are committed to strengthening cooperation and advancing mutually beneficial economic relations in the years ahead.
The United States Administration has officially informed the Government of Ghana that President Trump’s 15% imposition of tariffs on Cocoa and certain qualifying agricultural products from Ghana have been rescinded.
"US diplomats confirm to me that the 15% tariff reversal came into effect on November 13, 2025 following President Trump’s new Executive Order.
Other agricultural products from Ghana now exempted include cashew nut, avocado, banana, mango, orange, lime, plantain, pineapple, guava, coconut, ginger and assorted peppers.
With an estimated annual Ghanaian cocoa beans export to the US averaging 78,000 metric tons, and at current spot price of $5,300/MT, Ghana stands to raise additional revenue of US$60 million (GHS667million) each year resulting from Trump’s tariff rescission.
Ghana welcomes this positive development from the US which is the world’s leading importer of chocolate and cocoa products.
In comments to YEN.com.gh, Samson Asaki Awingobit, Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, cautioned the government against being complacent following the good news.
Awingobit called for deepening trade diplomacy with continuous high-level engagement with key partners to secure favorable terms for Ghanaian exports. The government must also leverage the country's growing trade footprint.
"Government must also do its best in bolstering Export Sector Resilience by implementing export credit guarantees, insurance mechanisms, and risk mitigation tools to support exporters navigating volatile global markets."
"Finally, we urge Government to prioritise the protection and diversification of Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings by significantly expanding the nation’s export base."
About Ghana's trade with the US
According to the US trade office, total goods trade with Ghana was $2.1 billion in 2024.
US goods exports to Ghana in 2024 were $967.3 million, up 12.3% from 2023 while US goods imports from Ghana in 2024 were $1.2 billion, down 28.0% from 2023.
The US goods trade deficit with Ghana was $204.4 million in 2024, a 73.3% increase over 2023.
Source: Getty Images
Assurance from US ambassador on tariffs
In April, US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, downplayed concerns over the potential impact of the tariff on Ghanaian exports to the US and assured that Ghana-US trade would remain strong.
She also expressed confidence that Ghana’s key exports, such as gold and gas, would remain integral to global trade.
"There are also goods and services; gold coming from here, gas coming from here, and we have automobiles and pharmaceuticals coming from the United States.
Ghana donates cocoa products to Sudan
YEN.com.gh reported that Ghana donated some food items to Sudan as it contends with a devastating conflict.
The items donated included cocoa products, mattresses, polytanks, and other vital supplies.
The donation was aimed at providing relief to those displaced and affected by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
