Outgoing United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, stated that Ghana stands to gain from the recent global tariff adjustments made by the U.S., particularly in comparison to its trade competitors. In an interview on The Point of View aired on Channel One TV with Bernard Avle on Monday, May 26, Ambassador Palmer explained that while Ghana faces a 10% tariff on exports to the U.S., this rate is considerably more favorable than those imposed on other countries.
The new U.S. administration has implemented a 10% tariff globally, which may temporarily benefit Ghana compared to its competitors. Oil and gas, significant exports from Ghana to the U.S., are not subject to this tariff. In contrast, countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam face much higher tariffs of 47% and 63%, respectively. Ambassador Palmer also pointed out that around 60 countries are dealing with tariffs exceeding 10%, which could give Ghana a competitive edge in global trade.
“There were 60 countries where tariffs were much higher than 10%, which may be an advantage for Ghana in the near term. I hope that Ghana will be the one making that point to the American legislature when it expires at the end of September [2025],” she added. Ambassador Palmer encouraged Ghana to proactively engage U.S. lawmakers, especially ahead of the expiration of the current tariff framework later this year.
By: Leticia Osei
