The Nigerian Presidency has described the ongoing tariff dispute between the United States and Canada as a wake-up call for nations to reassess their economic priorities, urging Nigeria to adopt a “Nigeria First” strategy.
AFRIPOST reports that U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced significant tariff hikes targeting Canada, Mexico, and China.
The new tariffs include a 35% increase on Canadian goods, 25% on Mexican products, and 10% on imports from China.
Reacting to the development, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed strong disapproval, vowing to respond with retaliatory measures against U.S. goods.
“The United States has decided to impose 25% tariffs on most Canadian products, alongside a 10% tariff on energy imports, effective February 4,” Trudeau stated.
“I’ve met with Premiers and Cabinet members to discuss our response, and I’ll be speaking with President Sheinbaum of Mexico shortly.
“We didn’t seek this conflict, but Canada is ready. I’ll address Canadians later this evening.”
In Nigeria, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, emphasized the need for the country to closely monitor the unfolding trade tensions.
“Nigeria must pay close attention to the tariff conflict between the U.S. and Canada, as well as other North Atlantic nations, because the ripple effects will be felt globally,” Dare noted.
“The World Trade Organization (WTO) will play a key role in managing the fallout from this emerging global shift.
“There’s a crucial lesson here for Nigeria. We’re seeing nations prioritize their interests—‘America First,’ ‘Canada First.’
“It’s time for us to embrace ‘Nigeria First.’ Let’s make Nigeria our top priority, no matter what,” he added.
The Presidency’s call reflects growing concerns about the potential global economic impacts of escalating trade disputes among major world economies.