00:00The license plates at this sprawling auto market in the Nigerian megacity Lagos tell you where these second-hand cars have come from.
00:09The U.S. International Trade Administration says 60% of all used cars shipped to Nigeria come from the United States.
00:18And for the Nigerians who can afford one, a used car imported from the U.S. has long been the best option.
00:25But the fallout from the Trump administration's 25% import tariffs on car and auto parts could be changing that.
00:36Sunday Akibor runs what he says is the continent's largest used vehicle market.
00:42He says that, for example, a Toyota Corolla that used to sell for 7 million naira, or around $4,500, now costs more than double.
00:52The reason is Trump's car import tariff applies to car and parts imported to the U.S., some of which are then re-exported to countries such as Nigeria.
01:03That's on top of a 35% import duty and levy imposed by Nigeria on used vehicles in 2022, in a bid to encourage local assembly.
01:13U.S. vehicle exports to Nigeria had already fallen, $580 million in 2024, compared with a little over $1 billion the year before, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity platform.
01:28This year, the numbers are expected to sink a further 18%.
01:32Financial consultant Shwaibu Idris believes this could fundamentally reshape Nigeria's automotive landscape.
01:40But he also believes the disruption may be temporary.
01:43Chances are, this may just last for the period that Donald Trump will be the president of America.
01:51I don't see it last forever because over time, you know, countries will retaliate, countries will reciprocate, you know, the gesture of Donald Trump.
02:02And that will make, you know, the American products also to be a little less competitive than other, you know, products in other, you know, countries.
02:13I don't see it last forever, you know, countries.
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