Convened under the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), the event brought together senior government officials, trade experts, and private sector leaders from both nations.

The discussions focused on unlocking Nigeria’s non-oil sectors: agriculture, manufacturing, and digital services; with the UK offering support through trade facilitation, investment promotion, and capacity building initiatives.

Opening the event, British Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Jonny Baxter reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to deepening bilateral trade relations, which was valued at £7.9bn in the12 months ending March 2025.

He reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigerian exporters through the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which provides generous tariff reductions and simplified trade rules.

Under the DCTS, over 3,000 Nigerian products stand to benefit from enhanced market access. These include produce such as ginger, cocoa, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, soya beans, and textiles, among others.

The British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter, further said:

“Today’s dialogue marks a significant milestone in the UK-Nigeria partnership. It reflects our shared commitment to driving inclusive, sustainable economic growth through strategic exports diversification. By working together, government to government and with the private sector through our market development programmes like Propcom+, we are unlocking new opportunities for trade, investment, and innovation across key sectors.

“The UK remains a steadfast partner in supporting Nigeria’s ambition to stimulate economic growth. Through initiatives such as the Developing Countries Trade Scheme (DCTS) and our joint efforts with the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment (FMITI), on standards and export readiness, we are laying the foundation for long-term prosperity that benefits both our nations.” 

Also speaking, Ambassador Abba Nura Rimi, director of Trade and Investment, Mrs Orji Gertrude, representing Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, said

“This DCTS initiative comes at a critical time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to diversify its export base beyond oil and strengthen its participation in global value chains. However, to fully harness these benefits, stakeholders must have a clear understanding of the rules of origin, documentation requirements, product standards, and trade facilitation measures under the scheme. Through partnerships like this with the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT), we aim to reduce barriers to trade, improve competitiveness, and ensure that Nigerian products meet international market standards.”

Looking ahead, both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to building resilient, diversified economies.

The dialogue concluded with a call to action for continued collaboration, knowledge exchange, and policy innovation to drive future trade and investment between both our countries.

From various parts of Nigeria, including Abuja, Kano, Portharcourt, Ibadan, Bauchi, among others, stakeholders converged at the Developing Countries Trading Scheme launch by the UK Government held at Eko Hotel, Nigeria.

The DCTS offers one of the most generous sets of trading preferences in the world and demonstrates the UK’s commitment to building long term, mutually beneficial relationships with countries like Nigeria.

DCTS will come into force in the Spring of 2023, replacing the UK’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences. The DCTS benefits 65 countries, 37 of which are African, and will mean that Nigeria benefits from duty free trade on over 9200 products.

This is significantly more generous than both the EU’s GSP scheme and the US’ AGOA scheme and, based on current trade volumes, would mean that 99% of goods exports to the UK are duty free.

In this post, we shall look at the key aspects of the DCTS:

First, it dramatically cuts tariffs for Nigeria so that 3000 new products are duty free for the first time.

The average existing tariff on these goods is 7% meaning these changes make Nigerian exports more competitive in the UK.

Many tariff reductions are on value added goods such as processed sesame oil, cotton clothing and cocoa butter and paste and complement existing duty free trade on raw products.

DCTS makes it simpler for Nigeria to get and retain these enhanced tariffs by removing the need for Nigeria to ratify and implement certain international conventions.

At the same time, the basis for potential suspension from the scheme has been broadened to include environmental as well as human right and labour rights considerations.

It makes rules of origin more generous for Nigeria’s least developed country neighbours to make it easier for them to use components from Nigeria in their duty free exports to the UK

This will ensure that goods which are genuinely competitive from countries like India and Indonesia do not get preferential tariffs, protecting the preferences of Nigerian businesses in key sectors such as leather goods and textiles.

The comprehensive government policy document which sets out changes to UK preferential trading arrangements under the new scheme is available here.

A summary of responses to the Developing Countries Trading Scheme public consultation is published here.

Nigeria is eligible for enhanced trade preferences in the DCTS. This means it benefits from new tariff cuts on over 3000 products and in total benefits from duty free trade on approximately 9200 products.

A number of key products have been identified which Nigeria already exports to the world but not the UK.

These include:

1. Cocoa

Tariffs removed for cocoa butter (2.5%) and paste (4.5%). Cocoa remains duty free.

Nigerian global exports of around £40m (butter) and £10m (paste) a year. UK imports of around £250m of cocoa butter annually of which Nigeria currently accounts for less than 2%.

UK imports of cocoa paste around £40m annually with none from Nigeria. Identified by Nigerian Export Promotion Council as key opportunity.

2. Cotton

Tariffs removed for woven cotton (6.4%) and tariffs on cotton clothes and apparel have been removed.

Raw cotton remains duty free. Identified by Nigerian Export Promotion Council as key opportunity.

3. Fertilisers

Tariffs removed for urea (6%). Nigerian global exports of over £650m in 2021 – tenth largest global exporter. UK global imports of over £200m with none from Nigeria. Fertilisers identified by Nigerian Export Promotion Council as key opportunity. 

4. Flowers

Tariffs removed for fresh cut (4.5%) and prepared (6.5%) flowers. Nigerian global exports of over £10m in 2021. UK global imports of over £600m a year.

5. Frozen shrimp/prawns

Tariffs lowered for frozen shrimp from 4.2% to 3.6%. Nigerian global exports of over £30m a year. UK global exports of over £300m per year with no imports from Nigeria. 

6. Petrochemicals

Tariffs removed for many products including polyethylene (2.5%) and polypropylene (2.5%). Over £20m of Nigerian global exports.

UK global imports in the £billions a year with very low volumes from Nigeria. Petrochemicals identified by Nigerian Export Promotion Council as key opportunity. 

7. Plantain

Tariffs removed for plantain (12.5%). UK global imports of around £25m a year with very low amounts from Nigeria. Identified by Nigerian Export Promotion Council as key opportunity. 

8. Sesame

Tariffs removed on sesame oil (2.5%-4.5% depending on usage) and sesame cake. Nigerian global exports of sesame oil are around £10m a year. UK global imports of around £15m a year with none from Nigeria. Sesame identified by Nigerian Export Promotion Council as key opportunity. 

9. Tomatoes

Tariffs removed for fresh tomatoes (8% between November-May) and prepared tomatoes (14%). UK global imports of around £500m (fresh) and £350m (prepared) a year. Currently low Nigerian exports but identified by Nigerian Export Promotion Council as key opportunity.

DCTS offers one of the most generous sets of trading preferences in the world and demonstrates the UK’s commitment to building long term, mutually beneficial relationships with countries like Nigeria.

The launch took place today at the EKO Hotel in Lagos, and the DCTS will come into force in the Spring of 2023, replacing the UK’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences.

The DCTS benefits 65 countries, 37 of which are African, and will mean that Nigeria benefits from duty free trade on over 9200 products.

This is significantly more generous than both the EU’s GSP scheme and the US’ AGOA scheme and, based on current trade volumes, would mean that 99% of goods exports to the UK are duty free.

Speaking on the launch, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, UK Deputy British High Commissioner in Lagos, said:

“Nigeria is one of the UK’s most important partners in Africa and the UK Government is committed to working with Nigerian businesses and exporters to boost trade between our two great nations. The UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme harnesses the power of trade to help Nigeria and other emerging economies grow and prosper.

“One major benefit of this new UK trading scheme is that it abolishes tariffs on over 3000 everyday products that Nigeria currently exports including cocoa, cotton, plantain, flowers, fertilizers, tomatoes, frozen shrimps and sesame. The overarching aim of the new scheme is to grow free and fair trade with developing countries, boosting the economy and supporting jobs in those countries, as well as in ours.”

This work is part of a wider push by the UK to drive a free trade, pro-growth agenda across the globe, using trade to drive prosperity and help eradicate poverty.

Key highlights

·The new trading scheme will cut tariffs on hundreds of everyday products

· Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) will help UK businesses access hundreds of products from Nigeria and around the globe at lower prices, reducing costs for UK consumers

· Will boost trade with 65 developing countries, support jobs and growth at home and abroad, and reinforce our economic security

This is on top of the thousands of products which developing countries can already export to the UK duty-free [and will mean 99% of goods imported from Africa, for example will enter the UK duty free].

The scheme means that a wide variety of products – from clothes and shoes to foods that aren’t widely produced in the UK including olive oil and tomatoes – will benefit from lower or zero tariffs.

The Developing Countries Trading Scheme ensures that British businesses can benefit from more than £750 million per year of reduced import costs, leading to more choice and lower costs for UK consumers to help with the cost of living.

Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

“As an independent trading nation, we are taking back control of our trade policy and making decisions that back UK businesses, help with the cost of living, and support the economies of developing countries around the world. 

“UK businesses can look forward to less red-tape and lower costs, incentivising firms to import goods from developing countries.”

Gill Atkinson, Acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, said:

“Nigeria will automatically benefit from enhanced preferences under the DCTS. This means 99% of total goods exported from Nigeria are eligible for duty-free access to the UK, saving £500,000 of tariffs.

As an example, cocoa butter exporters will save £180,000. It’s great to see that the new DCTS will also simplify seasonal tariffs, meaning additional access for Nigeria’s exports to the UK.”

The DCTS covers 65 countries across Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas including some of the poorest countries in the world.

It removes some seasonal tariffs, meaning more options for British supermarkets and shops all year round. For example, cucumbers, which can’t be grown in the UK in the winter, will now be tariff-free during this period for the majority of countries in the scheme.

This work is part of a wider push by the UK to drive a free trade, pro-growth agenda across the globe, using trade to drive prosperity and help eradicate poverty.