U.S Holds Talk with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar

The United States Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, engaged in a phone conversation with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, on Friday. The discussion centered around enhancing bilateral ties, strengthening commercial relations, and improving security cooperation between the two nations.

According to a statement from the US State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, the call underscored the United States’ commitment to maintaining a strong, enduring partnership with Nigeria. The two officials discussed several key issues, including the enhancement of commercial ties, bolstering security, and deepening the overall bilateral relationship.

This conversation comes amid recent developments in US-Nigeria trade relations, following President Donald Trump’s announcement that exports from Nigeria to the United States would now be subject to a 14 percent tariff. The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to rebalance global trade and address what it perceives as unfair trade practices.

The new tariffs, revealed during a “Make America Wealthy Again” event in the Rose Garden earlier this week, were attributed to an ongoing trade imbalance, with the US highlighting that Nigeria imposes a 27 percent tariff on US goods. The US government has argued that the tariffs on Nigerian exports are necessary to address this imbalance and protect American industries.

President Trump framed the tariff imposition as a crucial step to ensure fair trade practices, emphasizing that foreign nations should adhere to what he considers equitable trade standards.