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The withdrawal of US tariffs has unlocked fresh revenue opportunities for Ghana, bolstered rural livelihoods and further deepened trade ties between the two nations. Ghana is set to earn an additional USD 60 million in export revenue each year after the United States removed the 15% tariff that previously applied to Ghanaian cocoa and other agricultural exports.
The development was announced on Monday by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who confirmed that the tariff removal — approved under the Trump administration — officially took effect on November 13, 2025. The decision immediately increases the market value of Ghana’s cocoa in the US, scrapping the price reductions exporters had been forced to absorb to stay competitive. Ablakwa explained that Ghana ships roughly 78,000 metric tons of cocoa beans to the US annually.
Given current global cocoa prices of around USD 5,300 per metric ton, the Minister noted that the tariff elimination will directly result in significant revenue gains. “With annual average exports of 78,000 metric tons and a spot price of USD 5,300 per ton, Ghana will earn an additional USD 60 million each year following this tariff rescission,” he said.
Experts believe the benefits will ripple far beyond government revenue. Increased income is expected to enrich cocoa-growing communities by improving farmers’ access to fertilizer, pest control, labour, transportation and storage. Export firms are also likely to reinvest in plantations, raise productivity and hire more workers as US demand grows.
The gains are not limited to cocoa. Other Ghanaian exports — including cashew, coconut, mango, pineapple and peppers — now also enter the US duty-free. These high-performing non-traditional exports support thousands of rural households, and industry observers expect stronger farm-gate prices and rising export volumes in the coming years as global buyers respond positively.
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The projected USD 60 million boost comes at a pivotal time as government steps up efforts to expand non-oil exports and enhance rural economic resilience in 2026. Ablakwa hailed the outcome as both an economic breakthrough and a testament to strengthened Ghana–US cooperation. “Ghana welcomes this positive move from the US, the world’s largest importer of chocolate and cocoa products. Our two countries will continue deepening mutually beneficial relations,” he affirmed.
Officials say the tariff removal is a clear demonstration of effective diplomacy and carries the potential to transform livelihoods across the cocoa belt. As Ablakwa noted, the decision is “more than a diplomatic win; it is money that can improve farms, uplift families and empower entire communities.”
