U.S. tariffs: Nigeria is China’s strategic ‘counterbalance’ – Envoy
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Yu Dunhai, has said his country sees Nigeria as a strategic partner in the face of the current uncertainty in the global economy. He disclosed this while speaking at a high-level public forum on China-Nigeria relations with the theme: “Maintaining resilience and seeking opportunities in Nigeria-China cooperation, and amidst […]
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Yu Dunhai, has said his country sees Nigeria as a strategic partner in the face of the current uncertainty in the global economy.
He disclosed this while speaking at a high-level public forum on China-Nigeria relations with the theme: “Maintaining resilience and seeking opportunities in Nigeria-China cooperation, and amidst international trade disruptions and tariff war”, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Represented by Ms. Haron Duong, a senior official at the Chinese Embassy, he reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening trade relations with Nigeria.
While noting that recent U.S. tariffs had impacted global trade, he said that China sees closer ties with Nigeria as a strategic counterbalance.
“Our bilateral trade volume has reached $22 billion, making Nigeria one of China’s top trading partners in Africa.
“We remain committed to inclusive dialogue that brings together business leaders, government officials, academia, and the media,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Director of the Centre for China Studies (CCS), Mr Charles Onunaiju, urged Nigeria to leverage the China-Africa trade partnership as a pathway to economic resilience and sustainable growth.
He said recent geopolitical shocks, particularly trade policies from the United States, were redrawing the global trade map, presenting both challenges and opportunities for developing countries.
“While the world is still recovering from COVID-19, we now face a deliberate disruption – a trade war initiated by the United States. But disruptions also open doors. Countries that trade rarely go to war. So when trade is disrupted and someone calls it liberation, we must ask – liberation from what?” Onunaiju said.
He criticised the U.S. imposition of punitive tariffs on over 90 countries, including Nigeria and China, under the Trump administration, noting that such policies have backfired, hurting both American consumers and international trade partners.
“Nigeria suffered a 14% tariff despite having a modest trade volume with the U.S., while China saw tariffs of up to 145%. These measures have led to empty supermarket shelves in America and idle ports in California,” he said.
Onunaiju emphasised the need for Nigeria to emulate China’s long-term planning and internal market strength.
Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented by Amb. Mohammed Haida, described Nigeria’s ties with China as practical and forward-looking.
“Our engagement with China has been pragmatic. These global trade tensions, while challenging, offer us a chance to forge even stronger partnerships with countries like China,” he said.