The United Kingdom has reaffirmed Nigeria’s eligibility for duty-free access on 99% of its exports under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, a post-Brexit initiative designed to strengthen trade with developing nations.

The reassurance comes amid rising global trade tensions following the United States’ recent imposition of broad tariffs.

In a statement released Friday, the British High Commission in Abuja noted that the DCTS, launched in June 2023, enables Nigeria and 36 other African countries to export over 3,000 products to the UK either duty-free or at significantly reduced tariffs.

The scheme is aimed at promoting economic growth in developing countries by reducing trade barriers, streamlining export processes, and making it easier for local businesses to access the UK market.

For Nigerian exporters, it offers enhanced market access for a variety of agricultural products, including cocoa, yam, tomatoes, plantain, shrimp, and sesame seeds.

Speaking on the scheme, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, described Nigeria as a vital partner in the UK’s global trade strategy.

He emphasized that Nigeria, as one of the UK’s most significant partners in Africa, plays a central role in advancing the UK’s international 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.

“A major advantage of the scheme is the reduction or elimination of duty tariffs on products like cashew nuts, cocoa, cotton, plantain, tomatoes, prawns, and sesame. This isn’t just about access to the UK market — it’s about building a fairer, freer global trading system that drives economic growth and job creation,” Montgomery stated.

The DCTS is being rolled out in conjunction with the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), which targets key structural challenges in Nigeria’s export landscape.

Through this partnership, the UK is working with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI) to help Nigerian businesses fully harness the opportunities the scheme offers.

“Through ETIP, we are working with Nigerian authorities to remove bottlenecks and ensure more businesses can take advantage of the trade benefits available under the DCTS,” Montgomery noted.

The DCTS is part of the UK’s broader strategy to expand and deepen trade relationships with rapidly growing economies worldwide.