# Equatorial Guinea: Tariffs, Trade & U.S. Exposure Equatorial Guinea: America imported $96M in goods from Equatorial Guinea in 2025 (-25.1% in one year) and sold it $84M; the latest U.S. tariff action toward it (2026-02-24) is "IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122", in effect at 10%; it ships 1 essential good finished to American shelves (as of 2026-11-04). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/countries/gq - As of: 2026-11-04 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Country code: GQ - Region: Africa - Capital: Malabo; note - Malabo is on the island of Bioko; some months of the year, the government operates out of Bata on the mainland region. - Government: presidential republic - Population: 2M - GDP: $12.8B - U.S. imports from Equatorial Guinea, 2025: $96M - Change in imports in one year: -25.1% - U.S. imports 2026 through September: $42M - U.S. exports to Equatorial Guinea, 2025: $84M - Trade data source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis) - Tariff treatment: country-specific - Reciprocal tariff assigned under EO 14257 (terminated 2026-02-24): 13% - Section 301: no - Tariff status verified: 2026-02-24 - HTS revision: Revision 9 - Latest tariff action: 2026-02-24: IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122 (in effect) - Essential goods shipped finished to the U.S.: 1 - Coverage: full ## What you buy that Equatorial Guinea makes: U.S. imports, 2025 | Category | What it is | Value | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Liquefied petroleum gases | | $93M | 97.6% | | U.s. goods returned, and reimports | | $2M | 2.1% | | Engines-civilian aircraft | | $197K | 0.2% | | Measuring, testing, control instruments | | $42K | 0% | | Minimum value shipments | | $20K | 0% | 2026 so far (through September): $42M in imports. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis). ## What America sells to Equatorial Guinea: U.S. exports, 2025 | Category | What it is | Value | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Industrial machines, other | | $12M | 14% | | Industrial engines | | $8M | 9.8% | | Drilling & oilfield equipment | | $6M | 7.4% | | Meat, poultry, etc. | | $6M | 6.6% | | Materials handling equipment | | $5M | 5.9% | | Electric apparatus | | $5M | 5.8% | | Petroleum products, other | | $5M | 5.5% | | Measuring, testing, control instruments | | $4M | 4.4% | | Trucks, buses, and special purpose vehicles | trucks, buses, SUVs | $3M | 3.2% | ## U.S. tariff posture toward Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea was assigned 13% in April 2025, but its economy is overwhelmingly oil and gas — which fall under the energy carve-out — so real exposure is negligible. It held the 13% rate through August with no deal. Executive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions, Feb 20, 2026) terminated the IEEPA reciprocal duties, and Proclamation 11012 replaced it with a 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge effective February 24, 2026; energy imports remain exempt. Equatorial Guinea has no Section 232 steel/aluminum exposure. - Reciprocal tariff assigned under EO 14257: 13%, no longer in force. The Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs and they were terminated February 24, 2026 (EO 14389), replaced by a universal 10% Section 122 surcharge; see the timeline for the current effective rate. ## Tariff status, 4 changes since 2025 - 2026-02-24: IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122 (in effect, 10%). Executive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions) terminated the IEEPA tariff duties effective February 24, 2026, replacing Equatorial Guinea's 13% reciprocal rate with a 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge under Proclamation 11012 (capped at 150 days); energy imports remain exempt. [91 FR 9437](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03832) - 2025-08-07: 13% rate takes effect — no deal reached (in effect, 13%). Executive Order 14326 set the post-pause Annex I reciprocal rates; with no bilateral agreement, Equatorial Guinea's 13% rate took effect August 7, 2025, the energy carve-out leaving its oil and gas exports untouched. [90 FR 37963](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15010) - 2025-04-10: Elevated reciprocal rates paused to 10% for 90 days (in effect, 10%). Executive Order 14266 suspended the higher country-specific reciprocal rates — including Equatorial Guinea's 13% — back to the 10% baseline for 90 days. [90 FR 15625](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06462) - 2025-04-05: Reciprocal tariff regime begins — Equatorial Guinea assigned 13% (oil exempt) (in effect, 13%). Executive Order 14257 imposed a 10% universal reciprocal duty effective April 5 and a 13% country-specific rate for Equatorial Guinea scheduled to take effect April 9 — but oil and gas, nearly all of its exports, fell under the energy carve-out. [90 FR 15041](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06063) ## What Equatorial Guinea makes for America - [Propane (home use)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/propane-home) (energy): $85M to the U.S., 5% of U.S. imports of it ## The country itself Equatorial Guinea consists of a continental territory and five inhabited islands; it is one of the smallest countries by area and population in Africa. The mainland region was most likely predominantly inhabited by Pygmy ethnic groups prior to the migration of various Bantu-speaking ethnic groups around the second millennium BC. The island of Bioko, the largest of Equatorial Guinea’s five inhabited islands and the location of the country’s capital of Malabo, has been occupied since at least 1000 B.C. In the early 1470s, Portuguese explorers landed on Bioko Island, and Portugal soon after established control of the island and other areas of modern Equatorial Guinea. In 1778, Portugal ceded its colonial hold over present-day Equatorial Guinea to Spain in the Treaty of El Pardo. The borders of modern-day Equatorial Guinea would evolve between 1778 and 1968 as the area remained under European colonial rule. In 1968, Equatorial Guinea was granted independence from Spain and elected Francisco MACIAS NGUEMA as its first president. MACIAS consolidated power soon after his election and ruled brutally for over a decade. Under his regime, Equatorial Guinea experienced mass suppression, purges, and killings. Some estimates indicate that a third of the population either went into exile or was killed under MACIAS’ rule. In 1979, present-day President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo, then a senior military officer, deposed MACIAS in a violent coup. OBIANG has ruled since and has been elected in non-competitive contests several times, most recently in 2022. The president exerts near-total control over the political system. Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves in 1996. Production peaked in 2004 and has declined since. The country's economic windfall from oil production resulted in massive increases in government revenue, a significant portion of which was earmarked for infrastructure development. Systemic corruption, however, has hindered socio-economic development, and the population has seen only limited improvements to living standards. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy, increase foreign investment, and assume a greater role in regional and international affairs.  Geography - Location: Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon - Area: 28,051 sq km - Climate: tropical; always hot, humid - Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic - Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay - Coastline: 296 km - Natural hazards: violent windstorms; flash floods volcanism: Santa Isabel (3,007 m), which last erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano; Santa Isabel and two dormant volcanoes form Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea People and society - Population: 1,795,834 (2024 est.) - Nationality: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) - Ethnic groups: Fang 78.1%, Bubi 9.4%, Ndowe 2.8%, Nanguedambo 2.7%, Bisio 0.9%, foreigner 5.3%, other 0.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.) - Languages: Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official), Fa d'Ambo spoken in Annobon) 32.4% (1994 est.) - Religions: Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 2%, other 5% (animist, Baha'i, Jewish) (2015 est.) - Median age: 22.3 years (2025 est.) - Life expectancy at birth: 63.9 years (2024 est.) Economy - Economic overview: growing CEMAC economy and new OPEC member; large oil and gas reserves; targeting economic diversification and poverty reduction; still recovering from CEMAC crisis; improving public financial management; persistent poverty; hard-hit by COVID-19 - Industries: petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling - Agricultural products: sweet potatoes, cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, root vegetables, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa beans, chicken (2023) - Exports - partners: China 27%, Netherlands 12%, Spain 10%, Italy 7%, Germany 6% (2023) - Imports - partners: China 20%, Spain 17%, USA 10%, Gabon 5%, UK 5% (2023) Government - Government type: presidential republic - Capital: Malabo; note - Malabo is on the island of Bioko; some months of the year, the government operates out of Bata on the mainland region. - Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain) - Constitution: previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991 - Executive branch: President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979) - Legislative branch: Parliament (Parlamento) ## Sources - [91 FR 9437](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/25/2026-03832/ending-certain-tariff-actions) - [90 FR 37963](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/06/2025-15010/further-modifying-the-reciprocal-tariff-rates) - [90 FR 15625](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/15/2025-06462/modifying-reciprocal-tariff-rates-to-reflect-trading-partner-retaliation-and-alignment) - [90 FR 15041](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/07/2025-06063/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and) - [CIA World Factbook, Equatorial Guinea](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/) ## Related - [U.S. tariffs by country](https://policyrisk.com/tariffs) - [All countries](https://policyrisk.com/countries) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/countries/gq (as of 2026-11-04).