Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa exporter, has warned that it might increase the price of cocoa if the U.S. follows through with the proposed tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. The country’s Agriculture Minister, Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, made this statement on Thursday.

Last week, the Trump administration revealed a 21% tariff on cocoa from Ivory Coast as part of a broader trade initiative targeting several countries. However, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on these tariffs on Wednesday.

During a press conference in Abidjan, Minister Kouassi Adjoumani expressed hopes that the U.S. would reconsider these tariffs. He stressed that if the U.S. imposes taxes on their cocoa exports, Ivory Coast would raise the price of cocoa, which would ultimately result in higher costs for consumers.

While Ivory Coast does not directly control cocoa prices—since they are determined by the global market—the country might consider increasing export taxes on cocoa to generate more revenue, which would make the product more expensive for consumers.

Ivory Coast exports between 200,000 and 300,000 metric tons of cocoa to the U.S. each year. In addition, Kouassi mentioned that Ivory Coast might explore stronger trade relations with the European Union to help absorb excess cocoa exports if U.S. markets become less accessible.

Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d’Ivoire, is the world’s leading cocoa producer, and cocoa is a key export for the nation. Trade relations with the U.S. have been a significant factor in its economy, but recent tensions over tariffs have created concerns. While global cocoa prices are largely market-driven, countries like Ivory Coast can influence pricing through taxes and other trade measures. Raising cocoa prices could have a ripple effect on consumers globally, especially as cocoa is a key ingredient in products like chocolate and beverages.