Ghana Engaging U.S. Over 15% Tariff on Exports – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that Ghana is in active negotiations with the United States to address a 15 percent tariff recently imposed on Ghanaian exports.

The tariff, introduced under an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on July 31, has raised concerns among Ghanaian exporters and policymakers over its impact on key sectors.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the second batch of new Ambassadors and High Commissioners in Accra on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, President Mahama explained that the discussions also focus on the possible renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The program previously allowed Ghana and other African nations to export duty-free to the U.S.

“Negotiations are ongoing with regard to the trade tariffs of 15% and the renewal of AGOA, which was a zero percent tariff on African nations, and so those negotiations are still ongoing,” President Mahama said.

AGOA, first enacted in 2000, expired on September 30, 2025, after 25 years of granting duty-free access to thousands of products from eligible sub-Saharan African countries. Ghana was among its biggest beneficiaries, exporting about US$340 million worth of goods under the preferential trade framework.

The sectors most affected by the new tariff include cocoa derivatives, textiles, gold jewellery, cashew, and shea butter — industries that provide thousands of jobs and serve as crucial foreign exchange earners for Ghana.

President Mahama assured exporters that government is committed to finding a solution that safeguards livelihoods and sustains Ghana’s position in the U.S. market.