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Trump imposes 10% tariffs on all countries, including Ghana

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retaliatory tariffs by those countries could make the situation worse.

 

Olu Sonola, head of U.S. economic research at Fitch Ratings, said the average tariff rate charged by the United States would increase to roughly 22% from 2.5% in 2024.

 

“Many countries will likely end up in a recession,” Sonola said. “You can throw most forecasts out the door, if this tariff rate stays on for an extended period of time.”

 

The new tariffs will come on top of recent announcements of 25% taxes on auto imports; levies against China, Canada and Mexico; and expanded trade penalties on steel and aluminum. Trump has also imposed tariffs on countries that import oil from Venezuela and he plans separate import taxes on pharmaceutical drugs, lumber, copper and computer chips.

 

Canada and Mexico would not face higher rates on what they’re already being charged by Trump in what he says is an effort to stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling. As of now, goods that comply with the USMCA North American trade pact would be excluded from those tariffs.

 

But the 20% charged on imports from China due to its role in fentanyl production would largely be added to the 34% announced by Trump. The specific products that Trump is tariffing, such as autos, would be exempt from the tariffs unveiled Wednesday, as would products such as pharmaceutical drugs that he plans to tariff at a later date.

Threats of backlash

 

None of the warning signs about a falling stock market or consumer sentiment turning morose have caused the administration to publicly second-guess its strategy, despite the risk of political backlash.

 

Senior administration officials, who insisted on anonymity to preview the new tariffs with reporters ahead of Trump’s speech, said the taxes would raise hundreds of billions of dollars annually in revenues.

 

They said the 10% baseline rate existed to help ensure compliance, while the higher rates were based on the trade deficits run with other nations and then halved to reach the numbers that Trump presented in the Rose Garden.

 

Source: Gh Extractives

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Business

NEIP and MoFA Partner to Boost Poultry Agribusiness Under Adwumawura Programme

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The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to scale up support for agricultural entrepreneurs through the Adwumawura Programme.

 

The partnership seeks to strengthen Ghana’s agribusiness sector by combining MoFA’s technical expertise with NEIP’s entrepreneurship training initiatives.

 

As part of the agreement, MoFA will provide high-quality poultry feed and deliver technical and field support to programme beneficiaries. NEIP, on the other hand, will equip entrepreneurs with practical business training and essential resources, including hen coops, to help them establish and expand their poultry ventures.

 

At the signing ceremony, officials from both institutions emphasized that the collaboration is tailored to empower small-scale poultry farmers, especially “nkoko nketenkete” entrepreneurs, to create jobs, grow agribusinesses, and contribute to sustainable economic development.

 

The initiative falls under NEIP’s broader Reset Agenda, which is focused on driving innovation, supporting small enterprises, and positioning agriculture as a central pillar of Ghana’s economic transformation.

 

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Commercial Transport Operators Threaten Strike Over Soaring Spare Parts Prices

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Commercial Transport Operators have issued a stern warning to government, demanding immediate action to reduce the high cost of spare parts or risk facing major disruptions in the transport sector.

 

In a statement dated September 9, 2025, the operators said they felt “compelled” to call on the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, and the Parliamentary Select Committees on Trade, Industry, and Transport to swiftly intervene.

 

They recalled that in March 2025, during engagements with spare parts dealers and government officials, a promise was made to bring down spare parts prices, but nothing had been done since.

 

“Unfortunately, this promise has not been fulfilled, and the prices remain exorbitant,” the operators lamented.

 

The statement further warned: “If immediate action is not taken, we fear that the situation will escalate, and we may be forced to take drastic measures that could disrupt transportation services. We cannot continue to operate under these unsustainable conditions.”

 

They urged the relevant ministries and parliamentary committees to ensure that spare parts dealers adhere to their commitments, stressing that the survival of the transport industry—and by extension, the economy—depends on swift action.

 

“Failure to address this pressing issue will have severe consequences for our industry and the economy as a whole,” the statement concluded.

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GoldBod Unveils Bold Reforms to Transform Ghana’s Mining Sector

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The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, has announced sweeping reforms and strategic initiatives to position Ghana’s mining sector as a globally competitive and sustainable industry.

 

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Mining and Minerals Convention at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel, Mr. Gyamfi said the GoldBod was driving a paradigm shift from raw mineral extraction to value retention, with the goal of maximising national benefit from Ghana’s mineral wealth.

 

Between January and August 2025, small-scale gold exports facilitated by GoldBod reached a record 66.7 tonnes valued at $6 billion, surpassing the entire 2024 figure of 63 tonnes worth $4.6 billion. For the first time, small-scale gold exports outperformed large-scale mining exports over the same period.

 

Key reforms announced include:

 

Aggressive licensing reforms to promote responsible sourcing.

 

Scrapping of the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed small-scale gold.

 

Introduction of a nationwide traceability system to ensure transparency and compliance.

 

Partnerships requiring large-scale miners to supply 20% of their output to the Bank of Ghana for reserve accumulation.

 

 

To combat illegal mining, the GoldBod has pledged ₵5 million and five Toyota Hilux pickups to enforcement agencies, alongside a program to reclaim 1,000 hectares of degraded forest reserves beginning November 2025.

 

On value addition, Mr. Gyamfi announced plans for a state-owned gold refinery and an ISO-certified Assay Laboratory at Kotoka International Airport. Discussions are also underway to establish a “Gold Village” as a continental hub for jewellery production.

 

Calling for stronger investment, he urged local banks, pension funds, and financiers to channel resources into mining, stressing Africa’s need to transition from raw exports to beneficiation, from middlemen to tech-driven trade, and from youth as labourers to youth as innovators and owners.

 

“Ghana is resetting and Africa is rising. The GoldBod is ready. All we need now is courage and capital. Let us fund the minerals and mining sector differently. Let us transform it together,” Mr. Gyamfi concluded.

 

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