Trump Removes 15% Tariff on Ghanaian Cocoa and Agricultural Exports – Okudzeto Ablakwa
Tariff removal, effective November 13, is expected to boost Ghana’s cocoa and agricultural export earnings
- U.S. removes 15% tariff on Ghanaian cocoa and selected agricultural exports
- Tariff elimination, effective November 13, could generate an additional $60 million annually
- Government hails move as a boost to Ghana’s strategic export sector and market competitiveness
The Ghanaian government has confirmed that the United States has officially lifted the 15% tariff on Ghana’s cocoa and selected agricultural exports.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the development in a Facebook post on Monday, November 24, 2025, noting that U.S. diplomats formally communicated the decision to Ghana’s Mission in Washington, D.C.
The tariff removal, which took effect on November 13, 2025, follows a new Executive Order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The policy reversal undoes the earlier tariff that had imposed significant costs on Ghanaian cocoa exports to the U.S. market.
The rescission applies not only to cocoa but also to other key agricultural products, including cashew nuts, avocados, bananas, mangoes, oranges, limes, plantains, pineapples, guavas, coconuts, ginger, and various peppers.
Officials estimate that Ghana exports about 78,000 metric tons of cocoa to the U.S. each year, valued at roughly $5,300 per metric ton. The tariff elimination is expected to generate an additional $60 million (around GHC 667 million) in annual revenue.
The government hailed the move as a major boost to Ghana’s strategic export sector, noting that tariff-free access to the U.S.—the world’s largest importer of chocolate and cocoa products—will enhance market competitiveness and export earnings.
Minister Ablakwa added that both countries are committed to strengthening economic cooperation and fostering mutually beneficial trade relations in the coming years.
