The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has raised concerns over the ongoing trade war between the United States and China and advised Nigeria to divert its trade pattern towards countries that are unaffected by the U.S. tariffs.
The advisory follows the release of the NESG Foreign Trade Alert: 2024Q4 & Full Year 2024, which highlighted Nigeria’s vulnerability to global trade disruptions, particularly in its import-dependent industrial sector.
It warned that Nigeria must take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of the trade war between the countries.
“The trade war between the U.S. and China needs to be hedged against. Nigeria needs to divert its trade pattern towards countries that are unaffected by the U.S. tariffs. This would reduce tariff-induced increases in import bills, considering that the country’s import-dependent non-oil industrial sector is highly vulnerable,” the report noted.
The United States imposed a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese imports in February 2025, with plans to increase it by another 10 per cent in April.
China, in retaliation, announced additional tariffs of 10-15 per cent on certain U.S. imports starting March 10, 2025, along with a series of export restrictions targeting designated U.S. entities.
The measures are projected to disrupt global supply chains, slow world trade growth, and drive up the prices of globally traded commodities.
Given Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported manufactured goods and raw materials, the NESG warned that the country could face significant economic challenges if these trade tensions escalate further.
China remained Nigeria’s largest trading partner in Q4 2024, followed by India, Belgium, the U.S., and France. The most imported commodities during the period included refined petroleum products, sugar cane, and spare parts.
However, Nigeria’s reliance on imports, particularly from China, makes it susceptible to price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions stemming from the U.S.-China trade conflict.
The report also highlighted Nigeria’s dependence on imported raw materials, which poses a major economic risk. In Q4 2024, the country’s raw material imports totaled N2.1 trillion, significantly outweighing exports, which stood at just N0.7 trillion.
