Trade Boost: U.S. Reverses Cocoa Tariff on Ghanaian Exports

Ghanaian cocoa producers are set to benefit following the United States’ decision to remove a 15 percent tariff on cocoa and several other agricultural products from Ghana. The announcement was made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, via a Facebook post on Monday, November 24.

The Minister revealed that U.S. diplomats confirmed the tariff reversal came into effect on November 13, 2025, as part of a new Executive Order issued by former President Donald Trump.

The lifted tariffs cover not only cocoa but also a broad range of Ghanaian crops, including cashews, avocados, bananas, mangoes, oranges, limes, plantains, pineapples, guavas, coconuts, ginger, and assorted peppers.

With Ghana exporting an average of 78,000 metric tonnes of cocoa to the U.S. each year, currently priced at US$5,300 per tonne, the move is projected to generate an extra US$60 million (about GH₵667 million) annually for the country.

Ablakwa described the development as a positive step, given the U.S.’s position as the largest global importer of chocolate products. He added that Ghana and the United States will continue to build on their trade relations, seeking mutually advantageous opportunities.