U.S. reverses 15% tariffs on Ghana’s cocoa exports

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the United States government has officially withdrawn the 15% tariffs earlier imposed by President Donald Trump on Ghana’s cocoa and several key agricultural exports.

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In an announcement posted on X, the minister stated that U.S. diplomats had formally notified him that the tariff reversal took effect on November 13, 2025, following a new Executive Order issued by President Trump.

According to Ablakwa, the removal of the tariff does not only benefit cocoa but also extends to cashew nuts, avocado, banana, mango, orange, lime, plantain, pineapple, guava, coconut, ginger, and assorted peppers – a significant win for Ghana’s diverse agricultural export market.

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He further explained that Ghana exports an average of 78,000 metric tonnenes of cocoa beans to the U.S. annually, and with global spot prices currently around US$5,300 per metric tonne, the country could earn an additional US$60 million (approximately GHS 667 million) each year as a result of the tariff removal.

The U.S. government had initially imposed the 15% tariff on July 31, 2025, targeting exports from several African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique, Mauritius, Malawi, Lesotho, and Madagascar.

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The measure was part of broader U.S. efforts to address trade deficits, national security considerations, and what it referred to as imbalanced trade relations.

Ablakwa described the reversal as a major boost for Ghana’s agricultural sector, emphasising that the government fully welcomes the decision and views it as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral trade ties and enhance export competitiveness.