U.S. envoy meets Tinubu in Paris after kicking against Nigeria’s import ban on 25 product categories

The United States has opened discussions with President Bola Tinubu on expanding economic cooperation across Africa as part of efforts to deepen trade, investment, and development ties on the continent.

This was disclosed following a meeting on Thursday between President Tinubu and U.S. State Department Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, in Paris, where the Nigerian leader is currently on a short working visit.

According to a statement posted Friday on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, and shared by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the talks also touched on key security concerns in the region.

“State Department Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos met with President Tinubu on Thursday to discuss regional security, including working together with partners to build a durable peace in eastern DRC,” the U.S. Mission stated.

“They also discussed expanding opportunities for economic cooperation throughout Africa,” it added.

The meeting comes at a time when Nigeria is working to reposition itself as a hub for investment and economic growth on the continent.

President Tinubu has consistently called for stronger global partnerships to drive industrialization, job creation, and infrastructure development in Africa.

Though specific details of the economic discussions were not disclosed, analysts say the meeting reflects growing American interest in engaging with African leaders on development-focused diplomacy, with Nigeria seen as a critical anchor in West Africa.

President Tinubu has been in Paris since Wednesday, April 2, undertaking a short working visit aimed at reviewing his administration’s midterm performance and setting strategic priorities for the next phase of his tenure.

While abroad, the President has remained actively engaged in state matters, and Thursday’s high-level engagement with the U.S. State Department underscores Nigeria’s central role in regional affairs and global economic conversations.

And reviewing the US and Nigeria relationship against the backdrop of the global trade war initiated by the former, the 14 percent tariff recently imposed by the United States President, Donald Trump on Nigeria was mainly in protest of the latter’s import ban on 25 different product categories which had impacted US exporters.

The Office of United States Trade Representative (USTR) had noted that the ban, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods, negatively impacted US trade balance with Nigeria.

Writing recently on its X handle, the US Office condemned Nigeria’s restrictions on beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits, a development which limited US market access and reduced export opportunities.

It stated, “These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for U.S. businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market.”

Recall the USTR had on March 31, submitted the 2025 National Trade Estimate (NTE) to Trump and US Congress.

The NTE is an annual report detailing foreign trade barriers faced by US exporters and USTR’s efforts to reduce those barriers.

Trump’s global tariff war is reportedly rooted in these trade disparities against the US, and the findings underscored his America First trade policy as well as the president’s 2025 trade policy agenda.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had continued to ban the import of 25 different product categories which US Office say affects businesses of Americans dealing on these goods.