The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening economic ties with Nigeria by maintaining duty-free access on 99 per cent of Nigerian exports under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).
The DCTS, launched in June 2023, is a key component of the UK’s post-Brexit trade policy designed to foster economic growth in developing economies. It currently covers over 3,000 products and allows Nigeria and 36 other African countries to export goods duty-free or at reduced tariffs to the UK.
Under the scheme, Nigerian exporters benefit from tariff-free access on key agricultural commodities such as cocoa, yam, tomatoes, plantain, shrimp, and sesame. It also provides preferential access for processed and value-added products including cocoa paste and butter, cashew nuts, palm oil, and cotton clothing—pushing Nigeria beyond reliance on raw material exports.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, described the DCTS as a strategic move by the UK to foster inclusive economic growth. “As one of the UK’s most important partners in Africa, Nigeria stands at the heart of our global trade ambitions. We want to strengthen the trade ties between our two great nations and unlock the power of sustainable and transformative growth in Nigeria and across emerging economies,” he said.
He added that the scheme reduces or eliminates duty tariffs on everyday goods such as cashew nuts, cocoa, cotton, plantain, tomatoes, prawns, and sesame. “This isn’t just about improved access into the UK market, it’s about building a fairer, freer global trading system that supports economic growth and job creation, both in developing countries and in the UK,” Montgomery said.
The UK is also working with Nigeria under the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), a bilateral framework with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), aimed at resolving non-tariff barriers and maximizing the potential of the DCTS.
The renewed commitment comes amid global trade uncertainties, with the UK also expanding trade relations with major economies such as India and the United States.
