Trump Targets Kazakh Trade with New 25% Tariff Order

In a formal letter addressed to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, US President Donald Trump has declared a new 25 per cent tariff on all imports from Kazakhstan into the US, effective August 1, 2025.

Trump criticized the current state of trade between the two nations as “far from reciprocal,” citing longstanding tariff and non-tariff barriers imposed by Kazakhstan, The Caspian Post reports via local media.

According to the letter, these practices have contributed to a chronic trade deficit, which Trump claims harms US economic interests and national security.

Despite the tariff announcement, Trump expressed a continued interest in economic collaboration with Kazakhstan. He invited Kazakh businesses to invest in US manufacturing, promising accelerated regulatory approvals for companies seeking entry into the US market.

Trump also issued a warning against retaliatory tariffs, stating that any such action by Kazakhstan would be met with proportional increases beyond initial 25 per cent. He framed the decision as part of a broader effort to rectify what he called “decades of unfair trade practices” and to rebalance bilateral trade on more equitable terms.