President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that the Government of Ghana is in active negotiations with the United States to resolve a 15% tariff imposed on Ghanaian exports.
The tariff, introduced under an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump on July 31, has been a point of concern for Ghanaian exporters and policymakers.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the second batch of new Ambassadors and High Commissioners in Accra on Wednesday, October 1, President Mahama emphasised that the discussions also include the potential renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which previously allowed Ghana and other eligible African countries to export goods to the U.S. duty-free.
“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 stated.
AGOA, a landmark U.S. trade preference program enacted in 2000, granted eligible sub-Saharan African countries, including Ghana, duty-free access for thousands of products. The most recent extension expired today, September 30, 2025.
Ghana was a major beneficiary, exporting approximately US$340 million worth of goods under the preferential status.
Key affected sectors include cocoa derivatives, textiles, gold jewellery, cashew, and shea butter.
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