Trump Enforces 29% Tariff on Pakistan Amid Escalating Trade War
US President Donald Trump has announced a new wave of reciprocal tariffs, targeting multiple nations, including a 29% tariff on Pakistani exports.
Defending the move, Trump stated that the tariffs were necessary to correct long-standing trade imbalances and counter what he considers unfair foreign policies that disadvantage American businesses.
Trump has consistently pushed for overhauling global trade agreements, arguing that high tariffs imposed by other nations have given them an economic advantage at the expense of US industries. He specifically pointed out that Pakistan levies a 58% tariff on American goods, justifying Washington’s decision to impose a 29% tariff on Pakistani products in response.
The United States remains one of Pakistan’s key trading partners, with total bilateral trade reaching $7.3 billion in 2024. US exports to Pakistan saw a 4.4% increase, reaching $2.1 billion, while imports from Pakistan grew by 4.9% to $5.1 billion.
In his speech, Trump criticized past US policies of subsidizing foreign economies and emphasized that nations should become more self-sufficient rather than relying on American economic support.
As part of a broader effort to restructure international trade relations, the US has imposed reciprocal tariffs on 40 countries, with rates ranging from 10% to 50%. These measures are aimed at counteracting what Trump sees as unfair trading practices and ensuring that American businesses compete on a more level playing field.
Below are some of the newly imposed tariff rates for various nations:
- China: 34%
- European Union: 20%
- Vietnam: 46%
- Taiwan: 32%
- Japan: 24%
- India: 26%
- South Korea: 25%
- Thailand: 36%
- Switzerland: 31%
- Indonesia: 32%
- Malaysia: 24%
- Cambodia: 49%
- United Kingdom: 10%
- South Africa: 30%
- Brazil: 10%
- Bangladesh: 37%
- Pakistan: 29%
- Turkey: 10%
- Sri Lanka: 44%
- Saudi Arabia: 10%
- United Arab Emirates: 10%
- Qatar: 10%
- Argentina: 10%
- Ukraine: 10%
- Nigeria: 14%
Concluding his speech, Trump reinforced his “America First” agenda, calling trade deficits a “national emergency.” The newly implemented tariffs are designed to counterbalance foreign duties, with US rates generally set at about half of what other nations impose on American goods.
