The United States has placed Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and several other African countries on notice, threatening to impose sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on their exports for continuing business ties with Iran.
The warning, issued by US President Donald Trump, signals a tougher trade stance by Washington and raises fresh concerns over Africa’s access to the American market, particularly under preferential trade arrangements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on January 12, Trump said any country maintaining commercial relations with Iran would face an immediate 25 per cent tariff on all trade with the United States.
“Effective immediately, any country doing business with Iran will pay a tariff of 25 per cent on any and all business being done with the United States of America,” Trump declared, describing the decision as “final and conclusive.”
The proposed tariff would be imposed in addition to existing US trade measures already affecting African exporters.
Several African countries are already subject to elevated tariffs under Washington’s “reciprocal” trade policy. South Africa currently faces tariffs of up to 30 per cent on selected goods, Nigeria about 14 to 15 per cent, Ghana between 10 and 15 per cent, while Kenya and Tanzania are subject to around 10 per cent. Other African economies face a baseline tariff of 10 per cent.
For countries that continue trading with Iran — including Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia — the additional 25 per cent levy could significantly weaken the competitiveness of their exports in the US market.
The warning comes amid mounting political and economic tensions in Iran, where widespread protests have erupted over a collapsing currency and inflation nearing 40 per cent. Human rights groups have reported hundreds of deaths, though figures remain difficult to independently verify.
Despite sanctions, Iran has been expanding its economic engagement with Africa. Data from Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization show that exports to African countries rose by 77 per cent year-on-year to $849 million between March and November 2025.
Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria and Somalia have emerged as key African trade partners. Nigeria is Iran’s third-largest trading partner on the continent, with bilateral trade estimated at about $125 million, largely involving Nigerian agricultural exports such as oil seeds, cocoa and spices, while Iran supplies industrial equipment, plastics and processed food items.
Analysts warn that the proposed tariffs could have far-reaching implications. In South Africa, for instance, the measure could disrupt key export sectors such as automotive and mining. In 2024, South Africa exported about $8.2 billion worth of goods to the US, recording a trade surplus of roughly $1.23 billion.
For Nigeria and other African economies, the development also puts renewed pressure on AGOA eligibility. Although the US House of Representatives has approved an extension of AGOA to 2028, beneficiary countries are reviewed annually by the White House.
With the new tariff threat, African governments face a difficult policy choice — deepen economic diversification through new partners such as Iran, or protect access to one of their most critical export markets in the United States.
