The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has commended the Government for successfully engaging with the United States government to rescind the punitive 15 per cent export tariffs imposed on Ghanaian cocoa and other qualifying agricultural products.
A statement signed by Mr Samson Asaki Awingobit, IEAG Executive Secretary, stated that the decisive diplomatic achievement, reportedly effective from November 13, 2025, marked a significant milestone for Ghana’s trade community and the country’s export-driven growth.
It explained that by restoring duty-free or reduced-barrier access to markets for cocoa, avocado, cashew nuts, mango, plantain and other key products, the agreement help to safeguard Ghanaian exporters’ competitiveness and preserved vital foreign exchange inflows.
It added that the development vindicated long-held concerns within the business community, recalling that the IEAG had publicly warned in the past that tariff impositions were already undermining Ghana’s exporters’ ability to compete internationally.
According to the Association, it had earlier warned that the burden would erode profit margins, discourage production, and threaten jobs in export sectors and urged the government to double down on diplomatic negotiations and trade diversification to mitigate the risk of sustained U.S. protectionism.
“IEAG has long maintained that as Ghana’s access to the Chinese market improves, there is a strong likelihood that U.S. demand could decline, potentially prompting the U.S. to reconsider its protectionist policies.”
It stated that while the rescission of the U.S. tariffs was undeniably a victory, IEAG warned against complacency and called on the government, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to maintain the momentum.
The IEAG further called for the deepening of trade diplomacy with continuous high-level engagement with key partners, including the U.S., China, and other major markets, to secure favourable terms for Ghanaian exports.
“Government must also leverage the country’s growing trade footprint to negotiate bilateral and multilateral trade arrangements that lower barriers, reduce risk, and open new markets for non-traditional exports.”
The Association also called for the strengthening of the export ecosystem by providing targeted support to exporters, especially in the maritime and agricultural sectors, to maximise the benefits of market access.
Other recommendations were bolstering export sector resilience, and prioritizing the protection and diversification of Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings by significantly expanding the nation’s export base.
It noted that IEAG remained committed to working alongside the government, as a constructive partner, to translate the opportunity into sustained export capacity, greater value addition, and stronger foreign exchange inflows.
“We urge all stakeholders, public and private, to rally around this moment and invest in the future of Ghana’s export-driven prosperity,” the statement said.
Source: GNA
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