Nigeria, China in talks to strengthen economic ties

• Published On: 01 May 2025 at 07:22

Nigeria and China have launched high-level bilateral conversations to boost economic ties and explore tariff reductions in response to rising global trade hurdles.

The meetings, held on the margins of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, included Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, and China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, who discussed increasing economic relations.

The conversations take place while both countries face severe trade disruptions as a result of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The United States has slapped a 145% tariff on Chinese exports and a 14% duty on Nigerian imports, forcing both countries to seek alternate ways to boost their economies.

"Our discussions focused on expanding economic cooperation through improved trade, reduced tariffs, and increased investment," Tuggar told reporters.

"We also explored avenues to strengthen strategic partnerships, enhance infrastructure collaboration, and reaffirm our shared commitment to mutual respect and balanced, long-term development."

On the 100th day of President Donald Trump's hypothetical second term, China issued a startling propaganda film titled "Never Kneel Down!" that directly challenged US leadership.

The video, tweeted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry's official X account, coincides with Trump's first day in office.

It featured dramatic imagery of storms, conflict, and historical events, representing China's defiance of US pressure.

The narrator of the movie included provocative statements such as, "Bowing to a bully is like drinking poison to quench thirst," and presented China as a nation refusing to give in to external demands.

As Nigeria strengthens its partnership with China, ongoing bilateral negotiations indicate a strategy change aimed at increasing economic resilience in the face of global trade uncertainty.

These conversations also align with Nigeria's broader ambitions to develop trade ties with the BRICS grouping, which now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE in addition to its original members.