The United States Department of Commerce and the Office of the United States Trade Representative have announced a new 12.5% punitive tariff on select Nigerian imports, citing deep concerns over labor practices and alleged forced labor in specific export-oriented agricultural and extraction sectors.

The economic sanction comes following a multi-month investigation by US labor monitors, marking a significant escalation in trade tensions between Washington and Abuja.

The decision stems from findings by international human rights monitors and US trade officials alleging systemic labor violations, including forced labor, child labor, and unsafe working environments within cocoa, cashew, and artisanal mining supply chains across West Africa.

While oil and gas exports remain largely unaffected under existing energy agreements, the new 12.5% levy heavily targets non-oil exports entering US ports, particularly raw agricultural products, processed cash crops, and solid minerals.

Nigerian trade authorities and export groups have strongly rejected the claims, labeling the tariff unjust and harmful to ongoing non-oil economic diversification efforts. Officials in Abuja emphasized that federal labor laws strictly prohibit forced labor, adding that bilateral diplomatic discussions are already underway to seek a review and reversal of the decision.