US Rescinds 15% Cocoa Tariffs: A $60 Million Annual Windfall for Ghana

In a major diplomatic and economic victory for Accra, the United States has officially lifted the 15% reciprocal tariffs previously imposed on Ghanaian cocoa and several other agricultural exports.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, confirmed that the reversal took effect on November 13, 2025, following a new executive order signed by President Trump.

The removal of these duties is expected to provide a massive boost to Ghana’s economy, specifically:

• Revenue Gain: An estimated $60 million (approx. GHS 667 million) in additional annual revenue.
• Cocoa Sector Relief: Ghana exports roughly 78,000 metric tons of cocoa to the US annually; the tariff removal restores the competitiveness of Ghanaian beans in the world’s largest chocolate market.
• Diversified Exports: Beyond cocoa, the duty-free status now applies to a wide “basket” of goods including cashew nuts, avocados, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, ginger, and assorted peppers.

Trade analysts and diplomatic observers note that this policy shift follows a period of “recalibrated” relations between the two nations. The tariff removal coincides with Ghana’s recent adoption of a more cooperative posture regarding U.S. deportation frameworks.

It also coincides with the lifting of U.S. visa restrictions on Ghanaian travelers earlier in September, which restored five-year multiple-entry visa eligibility and also Ghana’s acceptance of West African deportees on humanitarian grounds.

Timeline of the Tariff Dispute