As US President Donald Trump unveils plans to impose new import tariffs on goods from over 150 countries, nations around the world are bracing for the economic ripple effects - and Tajikistan is no exception. With modest but strategically important trade ties to the US, the Central Asian nation is now watching closely to see whether its exports will be caught in the crosshairs of Washington’s latest protectionist push.
President Trump said he would send letters to more than 150 countries notifying them of tariff rates and that the levies imposed could be 10 per cent or 15 per cent as he forges ahead with his trade agenda, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.
“We’ll have well over 150 countries that we’re just going to send a notice of payment out, and the notice of payment is going to say what the tariff” rate will be, Trump told reporters at the White House.
“It’s all going to be the same for everyone, for that group,” Trump added, saying that the trading partners that would receive those letters were “not big countries, and they don’t do that much business.”
In an interview with Real America’s Voice, Trump said the rate would “be probably 10 or 15%, we haven’t decided yet.”
Trump in recent days has unleashed a barrage of tariff demands, informing other economies of new duties that will kick in on Aug. 1 if they cannot negotiate better terms with the US.
In a dramatic shift in US trade policy, President Trump has announced sweeping import tariffs on 185 countries, aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing and addressing longstanding trade imbalances.
Speaking at a press briefing, Trump described the new tariff regime as a measure to protect American industry, reduce the trade deficit, eliminate unfair practices, and restore the economic sovereignty of the US. He argued that America's trade partners have benefited disproportionately by selling more goods to the US than they purchase, often while imposing higher duties on American exports.
The administration outlined a two-tiered approach:
A base tariff of 10 per cent would apply to around 160 countries, including Tajikistan, starting April 5.
A second group of 27 countries was designated for elevated tariffs exceeding 20 per cent, initially scheduled to take effect April 9.
Among the highest rates imposed:
China: 125 per cent
Vietnam: 46 per cent
India: 26 per cent
Kazakhstan: 27 per cent
Japan: 24 per cent
South Korea: 25 per cent
EU: 20 per cent
Just days before implementation, on April 9, Trump unexpectedly suspended the elevated tariffs for three months, allowing time for potential negotiations and diplomatic engagement.
Most Central Asian nations, including Tajikistan, were subject to the minimum 10 per cent tariff, largely due to their low trade volumes with the US and reliance on raw material exports.
However, Kazakhstan stood out as the only regional country assigned a higher tariff rate of 27 per cent, reflecting its stronger trade relationship with Washington.
According to Tajikistan’s statistics agency, bilateral trade with the US totaled $147.3 million in 2024, comprising 1.6 per cent of the country’s overall foreign trade.
Imports from the US: $132 million
Exports to the US: $15.3 million (or 0.8 per cent of Tajikistan’s total exports)
Tajikistan’s exports to the US include natural juices, dried fruits, and certain mineral raw materials.
Tajikistan’s rising profile as the world’s third-largest supplier of antimony, a critical mineral for US defense needs. Antimony is used in ammunition, nuclear weaponry, and military-grade equipment such as night-vision devices.
