The Government of Ghana has confirmed that the United States of America has fully removed the 15% tariff previously imposed on Ghana’s cocoa and a range of agricultural exports.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the development in a Facebook post on Monday, November 24, 2025, stating that U.S. diplomats formally communicated the decision to Ghana’s Mission in Washington, D.C.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, the tariff removal took effect on November 13, 2025, following the signing of a new Executive Order by U.S. President Donald Trump. The rescission reverses a policy earlier introduced under the same administration, which had significantly increased export costs for Ghana’s agricultural goods entering the U.S. market.
The removal applies not only to cocoa but also to a wide range of Ghanaian agricultural products, including cashew nuts, avocados, bananas, mangoes, oranges, limes, plantains, pineapples, guavas, coconuts, ginger, and assorted peppers.
Government estimates suggest that Ghana exports an average of 78,000 metric tons of cocoa beans to the U.S. each year. With global spot prices at around $5,300 per metric ton, eliminating the 15% tariff could generate an additional $60 million (approximately GHS 667 million) in annual revenue.
Officials have welcomed the development, describing it as a major boost to Ghana’s export sector, particularly given that the U.S. is the world’s largest importer of chocolate and cocoa products. Tariff-free access is therefore expected to significantly enhance Ghana’s market competitiveness and strengthen its trade position.
Mr. Ablakwa noted that both nations remain committed to deepening cooperation and advancing mutually beneficial economic relations in the years ahead.
