Nigeria’s fragile economy may be dealt a fresh blow if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose an additional 10% tariff on countries aligned with the BRICS coalition.
Trump issued the warning Sunday on his Truth Social platform, stating that “any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions.”
Nigeria was officially admitted as a BRICS partner country in January 2025, following the bloc’s expansion at the 16th BRICS Summit in 2024. President Bola Tinubu is currently in Brazil for the 17th summit, where the policy shift by the U.S. is expected to dominate high-level discussions.
Although Nigeria holds only a “partner” status — a notch below full membership — it participates in BRICS summits and policy initiatives, contributing to dialogue on global trade, energy, and development.
Trump’s threat came as BRICS leaders criticized the U.S. for what they called “indiscriminate” tariff policies and aggressive military actions, warning of the potential fallout for the global economy.
Economists warn that the proposed tariff could significantly impact Nigeria’s export earnings. Crude oil — which accounts for over 90% of Nigeria’s exports to the U.S. — remains central to the nation’s trade profile. Additional tariffs could disrupt this flow and jeopardize Nigeria’s already slow-moving diversification efforts.
Despite recent efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stabilize inflation — which peaked at 34.2% in June 2024 but has since declined to 27.5% — the economy remains vulnerable. Structural reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and a floating exchange rate, have yet to yield widespread relief.
“Nigeria’s heavy reliance on oil and fragile non-oil export base means any shift in U.S. trade policy could have far-reaching consequences,” said an economist at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
With global economic uncertainty and shifting geopolitical alliances, analysts believe Nigeria must tread cautiously in its BRICS alignment while balancing vital trade relations with the United States.
