U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, Reaffirms Ghana as a Key Partner Amid Tariff Concerns
Ambassador Virginia Palmer Highlights Strong U.S.-Ghana Ties Amidst New Tariffs
The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, has reiterated that Ghana remains an important ally, despite recent shifts in her country’s international trade policies.
Palmer’s remarks come in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive orders, which authorize sweeping tariffs on several countries exporting to the American market. Ghana, now subject to a 10% tariff, is among those impacted, raising concerns about the potential effects on U.S.-Ghana trade relations and the broader implications for global commerce.
However, in her first public remarks since the political transition in the U.S., Ambassador Palmer reassured that Ghana’s long-standing ties with the U.S. continue to make it a crucial partner.
“Regardless of changes in rhetoric, focus, or the way we express things, Ghana is an important partner of the United States and will remain so. The U.S. supports Ghana’s economic recovery through institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF, along with American business interests. A significant trade mission is also on the horizon, although I cannot reveal details just yet,” she stated.
Ambassador Palmer further highlighted the deeply rooted relationship between the U.S. and Ghana, built on historical and cultural connections as well as strong bilateral trade, which currently totals approximately USD 3 billion.
Regarding President Trump’s decision to impose a 10% tariff on several countries, which will take effect on April 5 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, Palmer emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to Ghana. Trump’s tariffs, designed to address significant trade imbalances, will be applied on a country-by-country basis. Trump explained that these tariffs would be set at half of what the affected countries had previously imposed on U.S. exports.
Ambassador Palmer’s statements reassure that despite the shifting dynamics in international trade, the U.S.-Ghana partnership is strong and will continue to thrive.
