The United States has officially lifted a 15% tariff on Ghanaian cocoa and several other key agricultural exports.
The reversal, which took effect on November 13, 2025, follows a new Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump, modifying the scope of reciprocal tariffs introduced earlier in the year to address U.S. trade deficits. The move exempts products that cannot be commercially produced domestically in the U.S., including cocoa beans, coffee, tea, tropical fruits, spices, bananas, oranges, and certain fertilisers.
Announcing the development in a Facebook post on Monday, November 24, 2025, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that the U.S. Administration had formally notified the Government of Ghana of the decision.
“President Trump’s 15% imposition of tariffs on Cocoa and certain qualifying agricultural products from Ghana have been rescinded,” Mr Ablakwa wrote, adding that U.S. diplomats had personally confirmed the changes to him.
The exempted Ghanaian agricultural products now include cashew nuts, avocados, bananas, mangoes, oranges, limes, plantains, pineapples, guavas, coconuts, ginger, and assorted peppers.
This broad exemption is expected to bolster Ghana’s export competitiveness in the U.S. market, the world’s largest importer of chocolate and cocoa products.
With Ghana exporting an average of 78,000 metric tons of cocoa beans annually to the U.S. at a current spot price of approximately $5,300 per metric ton, the tariff lift could inject an extra US$60 million (about GHS 667 million) into the economy each year, according to the Minister’s estimates.
Cocoa remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s economy, generating over $2 billion in foreign exchange annually and supporting around 800,000 farm families across 10 regions.
The original 15% tariff was imposed on August 1, 2025, under a broader executive order targeting non-reciprocal trade practices from countries like Ghana, affecting sectors such as agriculture, textiles, and processed foods.
Ghana had been actively engaging U.S. authorities since October to mitigate the impact, with President John Dramani Mahama highlighting ongoing negotiations to protect exporters.
Mr Ablakwa expressed optimism about the future of Ghana-U.S. ties, stating: “Ghana welcomes this positive development from the US… Ghana and the USA will continue to forge closer and mutually beneficial relations.”