The Government of Ghana has confirmed that the United States has officially removed the 15% tariff previously imposed on Ghana’s cocoa and selected agricultural exports.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced the development in a Facebook post on Monday, November 24, 2025, stating that U.S. diplomats formally communicated the decision to Ghana’s Mission in Washington, D.C.
According to the Minister, the tariff removal took effect on November 13, 2025, following the signing of a new Executive Order by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The reversal rolls back a policy introduced during Trump’s earlier administration, which had placed additional cost burdens on Ghana’s cocoa shipments and other agricultural exports to the U.S. market.
Products affected
The rescinded tariff applied not only to cocoa but also to a wide range of Ghanaian produce, including:
- Cashew nuts
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Mangoes
- Oranges
- Limes
- Plantains
- Pineapples
- Guavas
- Coconuts
- Ginger
- Assorted peppers
- Economic impact
Government projections indicate that Ghana exports an average of 78,000 metric tons of cocoa beans to the United States annually. At a spot price of roughly $5,300 per metric ton, the removal of the 15% tariff could generate an additional $60 million (approximately GHS 667 million) in yearly revenue.
Officials have welcomed the move, describing it as a significant boost to Ghana’s export competitiveness, particularly in cocoa—a key pillar of the nation’s economy.
The United States remains the largest importer of chocolate and cocoa products globally, making tariff-free access crucial for Ghana’s long-term market advantage.
Mr. Ablakwa noted that both countries are committed to deepening economic cooperation and strengthening mutually beneficial trade relations.
