By Ghana Eye Report
West African country Ghana and the United States of America (USA) have affirmed their strong and cordial relations between the two countries; this is according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
At a meeting initiated at the instance of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Virginia Palmer, explained the imposition of the 10% tariff by the United States of America on Ghana, effective April 5, 2025.
According to the statement, the U.S. Ambassador indicated that “the tariff did not maliciously target Ghana but was intended to address significant trade imbalances between the USA and its partners, such as Ghana.”
Ambassador Palmer further explained that the 10% tariff imposition exempts some products, including oil and gas and energy-related products that the West African country exports to the United States.
However, products from Ghana exported under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) were affected by the 10% tariff imposition.
The meeting, the statement announced, was that the two parties discussed the possible exemption of other sectors, particularly with cocoa and garments, with both sides agreeing to mitigate the possible challenges, including possible job losses.
It further added the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Agribusiness and Industry would continue to engage the government of the USA on how to mitigate and alleviate the effect of the tariff on Ghanaian businesses and the economy through bilateral and diplomatic means.
The U.S. government on April 2 this year announced a 10% tariff imposition on Ghana and other countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1997 (IEEPA) citing economic and national security concerns linked to global trade deficits.
While the 10% levy applies broadly, certain products such as copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and critical minerals are exempt.
Following the decision by the U.S. government, the Ghanaian government announced plans to engage the former over the 10% tariff imposition. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
Find the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs below:
