US Tariff Threat Looms Over Ghana’s BRICS Bid

Ghana's ambitions to join BRICS as a partner country have sparked concerns over potential U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats, which could affect the country's trade and economic relations with the United States. The threats involve a proposed additional 10 percent tariff on countries perceived as pursuing "anti-American policies" and a separate 100 percent levy against efforts to replace the U.S. dollar as the dominant international currency.

Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has formally communicated the decision to seek partner-country status to India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and has sought India's support. The government anticipates that Ghana's membership would broaden development partnerships, attract investment, and support industrialization.

However, the decision comes amid Trump's repeated warnings over BRICS and efforts to reduce global reliance on the dollar. In July 2025, Trump issued a separate threat, declaring that any country aligning with the anti-American policies of BRICS would face an additional 10 percent tariff, with no exceptions. Ghana's efforts to diversify payment channels, including a pilot system allowing businesses to pay Chinese suppliers from cedi accounts in yuan, have added to the complexity surrounding the country's BRICS ambitions.

While this service could simplify transactions, it does not automatically support a replacement for the dollar. Trade arrangements with China, such as Ghana's offer to remove tariffs on fewer than 150 products, also require clarification. The stakes are significant for Ghana, as four of its major export destinations – the United Arab Emirates, India, South Africa, and China – are BRICS members.

The government must clarify the benefits expected from the initiative, the commitments involved, and measures to manage potential trade risks.