The United States has officially lifted the 15% tariffs that were imposed on cocoa and certain agricultural products from Ghana, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced. According to the Minister, the decision took effect on November 13, 2025, following a new executive order from President Trump.
In a post on Facebook, Mr Ablakwa said U.S. diplomats confirmed the tariff reversal, stating, “the 15% tariff reversal came into effect on November 13, 2025, following President Trump’s new Executive Order.”
He elaborated that the list of now-exempt goods includes not only cocoa beans, but also other key Ghanaian exports such as cashew nuts, avocado, banana, mango, orange, lime, plantain, pineapple, guava, coconut, ginger, and various peppers.
This policy change comes as a major boost to Ghana’s cocoa industry.
With Ghana exporting an estimated 78,000 metric tons of cocoa beans annually to the U.S., and current spot prices around $5,300 per metric ton, this reversal could generate an estimated US$60 million (GHS 667 million) in additional revenue each year, the Minister noted.
Ghana has welcomed the decision, with Mr Ablakwa adding, “Ghana and the USA will continue to forge closer and mutually beneficial relations.”
What Led to the Tariff Hike
The tariff escalation followed a July 31, 2025, executive order by President Trump, which raised reciprocal tariffs on a number of countries, including Ghana, to 15%.
This move alarmed Ghana’s agricultural export sector, especially cocoa, which is central to the nation’s foreign-exchange earnings.
In response, the government of Ghana pushed back strongly. Deputy Trade Minister Sampson Ahi said Ghana was “prepared to engage at the highest levels” to challenge what it deemed unfair, noting that the U.S. does not produce cocoa domestically.
Analysts also saw this as a wake-up call for Africa more broadly, calling for deeper regional trade integration under frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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