The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, has reaffirmed the strong ties between the US and Ghana despite the recent imposition of a 10% tariff on Ghanaian exports to the US.
The tariff, introduced by the Trump administration, has raised concerns among Ghanaian exporters about potential diminished competitiveness in the US market.
Ambassador Palmer met with Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in a closed-door meeting on Monday morning. The meeting, which lasted over an hour, focused on the implications of the new tariff and explored avenues to sustain and strengthen the longstanding trade and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The discussion centered on the details of the tariffs and ways to further strengthen the partnership between the US and Ghana.
Ambassador Palmer expressed optimism about the resilience of US-Ghana relations, stating, “I had a great conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and we talked about how the relationship with Ghana is very strong and how we can keep it going that way.”
Ambassador Palmer also hinted at possible compensatory measures, suggesting Ghana might benefit relative to its competitors. “I hope Ghana will get some advantages vis-à-vis its competitors,” she noted.
The US and Ghana currently enjoy approximately $3 billion in bilateral trade, built on shared history, culture, and cooperation. A significant trade mission is being planned to enhance investment and business relations between the two nations, focusing on areas like commerce, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Ghanaian officials are expected to demand clearer justifications and possible concessions from the US, given the potential economic consequences of the tariff.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement following the meeting, emphasizing the need for continued dialogue to address concerns and strengthen the partnership.
Below is the Ministry’s statement issued after the meeting.
