UK woos Nigeria, other developing countries’ with new DCTS

The United Kingdom is set to further enhance its trade relations with Nigeria and other developing countries with the launch of the Developing Country Trading Scheme (DCTS) that will see Nigeria and other developing countries export their goods to the country duty-free from 2023.

According to the British High Commission, the scheme launched by Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Secretary of State for International Trade of the United Kingdom cuts tariffs on hundreds of more products exported from Nigeria and other developing countries.

This is in addition to the thousands of products that developing countries can already export to the UK duty-free, the Commission said in a statement.

It explained that the scheme would ensure a wide variety of products – from clothes and shoes to foods that aren’t widely produced in the UK, including olive oil and tomatoes – will benefit from lower or zero tariffs.

“DCTS Will boost trade with 65 developing countries, support jobs and growth at home and abroad, and reinforce our economic security”, the statement read.

Gill Atkinson, acting British high commissioner to Nigeria, said Nigeria would automatically benefit from enhanced preferences under the DCTS. He said the scheme can save up to £500,000 of tariffs.

“As an example, cocoa butter exporters will save £180,000. It’s great to see that the new DCTS will also simplify seasonal tariffs, meaning additional access for Nigeria’s exports to the UK,” he said.

“The DCTS covers 65 countries across Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, including some of the poorest countries in the world. It removes some seasonal tariffs, meaning more options for British supermarkets and shops all year round. For example, cucumbers, which can’t be grown in the UK in the winter, will now be tariff-free during this period for the majority of countries in the scheme.