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Cameroon

US Revised Tariffs (%)

15

Ease of doing business

theboardiQ Tariffs Dashboard:

Powering Mutually Beneficial Global Trade.

 

Understand the complexities of international tariffs and ease of doing business across nations to cultivate balanced trade relationships, streamline operations, and deliver cost savings to end consumers.

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Revised Tariff %
Original Tariff %
Country Tariff Rate %
Share of US Imports % (1 implies <1%)
15
11
18.1
1
Exports (in USD Bill.) 2024
Imports (in USD Bill.) 2024
Balance (in USD Bill.) 2024
0.19
0.25
-0.06

Implications

The current trade environment between the US and Cameroon is defined by the new "Reciprocal Tariff" system implemented by the US, which subjects Cameroonian imports to a country-specific duty.

Here is an update focusing on Cameroon as of October 2025:

Area

Status (October 2025)

Key Details

US Tariffs on Cameroon

15% Reciprocal Tariff (Implemented)

Imports from Cameroon are generally subject to a 15% ad valorem Reciprocal Tariff, which took effect in August 2025. This is in addition to the standard Column 1 duty rate (the normal tariff schedule).

Previous Trade Agreement

AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) (Impact unclear/superseded)

The status of Cameroon's eligibility under the duty-free provisions of AGOA for specific products is now significantly impacted or superseded by the new universal IEEPA-based tariffs.

Deals and Agreements

No Bilateral Trade Deal

Cameroon has not concluded a bilateral trade agreement with the US to negotiate a reduced or exempt tariff rate, unlike some other US trading partners (e.g., the UK or Japan).

De Minimis Exemption

Suspended (Implemented)

Effective August 29, 2025, the US suspended the $800 de minimis duty-free exemption for all imports. This means all shipments from Cameroon, regardless of value, are now subject to the applicable tariffs.

Transshipment Penalty

40% Tariff (Implemented)

A significant new penalty of a 40% tariff is in effect for goods determined to have been transshipped (routed through an intermediary country) to evade the new tariffs.



Impact on Companies in Cameroon


The new tariff structure creates significant challenges for Cameroonian businesses exporting to the US:

  1. Increased Costs and Reduced Competitiveness: The implemented 15% Reciprocal Tariff, when added to the standard duty, makes Cameroonian exports more expensive and less competitive in the US market.

  2. Loss of Duty-Free Status: The application of the new IEEPA-based tariffs likely undermines the benefits of the AGOA program for many products, removing a key competitive advantage for Cameroonian exporters.

  3. Higher Compliance Burden: The suspension of the de minimis exemption means that every single shipment, no matter how small, now requires full customs clearance and duty calculation. This dramatically increases administrative and logistical costs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

  4. Risk of New Trade Actions: Cameroon, like all other countries, is subject to the new US trade policies, meaning it could face new or adjusted tariffs at any time if a trade deficit persists or if the US initiates a Section 232 investigation into specific Cameroonian products.

US Revised Tariffs

Country Tariffs

Balance of Trade

Commercial Guide

Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in countries, prepared by U.S. Embassies worldwide, Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals

Tariff Rate for US

World Bank staff estimates using the World Integrated Trade Solution system, based on tariff data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's Trade Analysis and Information System ( TRAINS ) database and global imports data from the United Nations Statistics Division's Comtrade database.

US Imports Guide 

United States Imports from Countries during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United States Imports from Countries- data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on April of 2025.

Investing in USA

theboardiQ Economic Relevance Score, ranks States of USA based on 11 parameters

Sources : ForbesUSDA Economic Research | TCGen Total Innovation Rank Index | Best States for Manufacturing | World Population Review | Tax Foundation | US News | BEA Data | Wikipedia International Trade Administration

theboardiQ's Economic Relevance Score provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of a nation's economic vitality and global significance. This score is meticulously calculated using 11 key parameters, each reflecting a critical facet of economic performance. It analyzes the representation of Fortune 500 companies within a nation, a strong indicator of its business environment and market size. The balance of trade surplus or deficit reveals the nation's international competitiveness and export strength. It incorporates Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a fundamental measure of overall economic output, and examine the health of key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. The score also accounts for innovation, gauging a nation's ability to drive future growth through technological advancements. Crucial labor market indicators such as employment rates are considered, alongside fiscal policies reflected in tax rates. To capture the lived experience of citizens, it assesses cost of living and disposable income, providing insight into purchasing power and economic well-being. Finally, education levels are integrated, recognizing their pivotal role in fostering a skilled workforce and driving long-term economic development. By synthesizing these 11 parameters, theboardiQ's Economic Relevance Score delivers a nuanced and holistic view of a nation's economic standing, enabling informed strategic decisions. The Top 5 States in the assessment are Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Washington. Texas does consistently well across most of the 11 variables especially in the areas of GDP, F500 representation in the State, Balance of Trade where it ranks 2nd nationally. North Carolina scores as the highest-ranking state nationally in manufacturing and performs consistently across the other variables. Virginia does well in disposable income where it ranks 3rd nationally. It also scores high in the variables of manufacturing and employment Florida holds the 4th ranking nationally for GDP and Tax Washington State scores the top spot for disposable income nationally, 2nd for education and 3rd for innovation. Colorado, with an overall rank of 7 scores the top spot for Education (schools and higher education). Nebraska, that ranked 10th overall, did well in Agriculture where it is ranked 3rd nationally as well as Trade Balance where it ranked 5th. Illinois, though ranked 20th overall did well nationally in F500 representation, GDP, Agriculture, and Disposable Income. Pennsylvania comes in at 21 overall doing well nationally in GDP (6th); Manufacturing (8th) and F500 representation (8th) New York scores 23rd overall with a 2 ranking in Disposable Income nationally, as well as 3rd in both F500 representation and GDP. California comes in at 29th overall and has the top spot ranking in a whopping 4 variables nationally – GDP, Innovation, Agriculture and F500 representation. However, performance in the areas of Trade Balance, Cost of Living, Tax, Manufacturing and Employment resulted in the overall ranking dipping. Wyoming at 30th overall scores the top spot nationally in the area of Tax Massachusetts at 31 overall does well in innovation where it is ranked 2nd nationally Arkansas at 36 and Alabama at 39, do well in overall Cost of Living where they are ranked 2nd and 3rd nationally, respectively. Louisiana ranked 44th overall is ranked 1st in Trade Balance nationally.

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