The United Kingdom has reaffirmed that Nigeria will continue to enjoy duty-free access on 99 per cent of its exports under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), a move aimed at boosting trade between both countries.
This was made known on Friday in a statement from the British High Commission’s Communications Office in Abuja.
The DCTS, which came into effect in June 2023, grants Nigeria and 36 other African countries favourable trade terms, allowing over 3,000 products to enter the UK market either duty-free or at significantly reduced tariffs. The scheme is designed to support Nigerian businesses, encourage value addition, and improve competitiveness on the global stage.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, said the initiative is a strategic step in strengthening UK-Nigeria trade relations.
“As one of the UK’s key partners in Africa, Nigeria is central to our global trade ambitions,” he said. “This scheme is not just about increased market access but about building a fairer, freer global trading system that creates jobs and supports sustainable growth.”
Montgomery noted that under the DCTS, everyday Nigerian products such as cashew nuts, cocoa, cotton, plantain, tomatoes, prawns, and sesame seeds will enjoy zero or reduced tariffs.
He further explained that through the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, both countries are working together to remove barriers to trade and ensure Nigerian exporters maximise the benefits of the DCTS.
In addition to raw agricultural products, the scheme supports processed and value-added goods like cocoa paste and butter, palm oil, and cotton garments — a development expected to help Nigeria shift from raw exports to manufacturing and processing.
The DCTS also benefits UK businesses and consumers by reducing import costs and providing access to a wider range of affordable goods.
Despite the strong trade framework, the statement noted that bilateral trade between Nigeria and the UK in goods and services stood at £7.2 billion in 2024, a 7.6% decline (£596 million) from the 2023 figure.
The UK government says the DCTS is part of a broader effort to deepen global trade ties, alongside other recent agreements with countries such as India and the United States.
