NEPC targets new markets for Nigerian exporters amid U.S tariff pressure

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has intensified efforts to help exporters navigate the challenges posed by the recent U.S. tariff regime.

The administration of President Donald Trump had slammed high tariff on different nations, including Nigeria.

Speaking during a one-day workshop held in Kano, the Regional Coordinator of NEPC Northwest, Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, announced the launch of a capacity-building programme aimed at opening alternative markets and enhancing product competitiveness for Nigerian exporters.

she said the initiative was driven by concerns that the new U.S. tariffs could significantly erode the profit margins of Nigerian exporters who rely heavily on the American market.

She explained that many exporters risk losing substantial revenue if their goods continue heading to the U.S. under the new tariff structure.

“We realized that if our exporters continue exporting to the U.S., the imposed tariffs will cut deeply into their earnings. So we had to look inward and build their capacity to explore other viable markets where such tariff barriers do not exist,” she said.

She stressed that the workshop was designed to expose exporters, particularly SMEs exporters to emerging opportunities outside the U.S, ensuring they understand that global trade possibilities extend far beyond a single destination.

Abdumalik highlighted to the participants the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as one of the strongest opportunities available to Nigerian businesses as well as Nigerian exporters.

She described AfCFTA as Africa’s equivalent of the European Union market, enabling free and profitable trade among African countries.

“We have products in Nigeria that neighbouring countries like Togo urgently need, but we often don’t know this because our exporters haven’t taken those products to the regional market. AfCFTA opens enormous opportunities for Nigerian exporters because African countries need what we produce. So why remain fixated on the U.S. market when there are profitable alternatives within Africa without the burden of tariffs?” she queried.

Speaking on behalf of the participants Mr Shamsuddeen Rahman, revealed that the workshop is timely as many SMEs exporters have no prior knowledge of the opportunities that exist in exporting to African countries, adding that what NEPC had done was worth commending.

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