The Ministers of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Finance and Foreign Affairs are set to engage the Ambassador of the United States to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, on a 10% tariff imposed on Ghanaian products exported to the United States of America. The tariff which took effect on Saturday, April 5, 2025 following an announcement on April 2 by US President Donald Trump, does not include goods on transit as of the date of tariff announcement.

The Government of Ghana however assures the Ghanaian private sector especially major exporters, investors and the general public of its commitment to engage the Americans in order to “avoid trade disruptions” while ensuring “predictability of investment decisions in the country”, The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry said in a statement. In view of that, the aforementioned sector Ministers will engage Ambassador Palmer on Monday, April 7, the statement continued.

Ghana is a signatory to the US’ African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a non-reciprocal preferential trade agreement between the USA and eligible African countries including Ghana. Under AGOA, most of the goods exported from Ghana to the US market enjoy a duty-free access quota, goods such as apparel, cocoa derivatives, gold jewellery, shea butter, yam, fruits, vegetables, and cashew among others. According to the United Nations’ COMTRADE database on international trade, total exports to the US from Ghana was $787.79 million during the 2023 period.

The Executive Order that was issued by the White House was in response to several tariffs imposed on American goods by other countries. According to the Order, the tariffs are being imposed pursuant to to International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 “due to economic and national security implications” of the US’ trade deficits globally. This action by the US President also saw ‘reciprocal’ tariffs imposed on over 50 countries with rates ranging from 11% to 50%.