U.S. reverses 15% tariff on Ghana’s cocoa and other agricultural exports
Ghana and the United States have reached an agreement to cancel the 15% tariff previously imposed on cocoa and several other agricultural products from the West African country.
The announcement was made by Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who posted a statement on his social media platform confirming the development. According to Ablakwa, the policy change took effect on November 13, 2025, through a new Executive Order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“US diplomats confirm to me that the 15% tariff reversal came into effect on November 13, 2025, following President Trump’s new Executive Order,” the foreign minister stated.
Ghana, with a population of about 34 million, is the second largest producer of cocoa globally, behind Côte d'Ivoire.
Its annual cocoa exports to the United States are estimated at 78,000 metric tons. With the current global price at $5,300 per metric ton, the country is expected to generate an additional US$60 million (approximately GHS667 million) in annual revenue following the tariff removal.
In addition to cocoa, the tariff removal also applies to several other Ghanaian agricultural exports, including cashew nut, avocado, banana, mango, orange, lime, plantain, pineapple, guava, coconut, ginger, and various types of pepper.
This development follows President John Dramani Mahama’s earlier disclosure on October 1 that Ghana was in active negotiations with the U.S. to address the tariff. The 15% duty had been introduced by President Trump on July 31 through an executive order, causing concern among Ghanaian exporters and policymakers.
President Mahama noted that the negotiations also covered the possible renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which previously allowed duty-free access for certain African exports to the U.S.
“Negotiations are ongoing with regard to the trade tariffs of 15% and the renewal of AGOA, which was a zero per cent tariff on African nations, and so those negotiations are still ongoing,” President Mahama said.
AGOA expired on September 30, 2025, after providing 25 years of preferential access for eligible sub-Saharan African countries to the U.S. market.
The cancellation of the tariff comes at a time of changing diplomatic relations between Ghana and the United States. This period includes Ghana’s agreement to receive nationals deported from the U.S. under President Trump’s immigration enforcement policy.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
