Ambassador Palmer Calls for Further Dialogue on 10% New Tariff Amid Concerns from Ghanaian Private Sector
The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, has called for further discussions with the Government of Ghana following high-level talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the recent imposition of a 10 percent tariff on imports from Ghana and several other countries.
The new tariff policy, set to take effect this week, has raised concerns among Ghana’s private sector, with industry experts warning of its potential impact on exports and government revenue.
This development follows an earlier U.S. decision to scale back aspects of its USAID support to Ghana—a move President John Dramani Mahama has described as a threat to critical funding inflows. In response, the President has directed the Finance Minister to take urgent steps to address the potential revenue shortfall.
Speaking to the media after her engagement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, April 7, Ambassador Palmer acknowledged the concerns raised but expressed optimism about the resilience of U.S.-Ghana relations.
“I had a great meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We talked about how the relationship with Ghana is very strong and how we can keep it that way. We also discussed the details of these global tariffs and explored areas where the United States and Ghana can improve trade relations and maintain the lowest possible tariff regime,” Ambassador Palmer stated.
When asked about the potential implications of the new tariffs on U.S.-Ghana relations, she noted: “Well, I hope Ghana will get some benefits vis-à-vis its competitors, but we’ll dig in and continue to talk.”
Her remarks signal a willingness for continued engagement, as both countries seek to navigate the economic implications of the policy while preserving their longstanding trade partnership.
