Saturday, March 29, 2025
Trump Tariff Announcement Targets Iraq, Libya, Algeria and More
In a bold move aimed at reducing U.S. trade deficits, President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on six additional countries: Iraq, Libya, Algeria, the Philippines, Brunei, and Moldova. The decision, made public on Wednesday, marks the latest escalation in Trump’s aggressive trade policy, bringing the total number of affected countries to twenty.
According to the announcement, a 30% tariff will now apply to goods imported from Algeria, Iraq, and Libya. The Philippines will face a 20% tariff, while both Brunei and Moldova will be hit with a 25% duty. These measures are reportedly a response to what the Trump administration views as unfair trade practices and continued barriers to American exports.
World Leaders Briefed
Sources indicate that the governments of the targeted nations were formally notified of the new tariffs. U.S. officials informed them that the action was taken due to consistent trade imbalances and what they described as “unreasonable obstructions” to American exports. This follows similar action taken earlier against India and 13 other countries.
Tariff Relief Deadline – Except for China
While Trump has extended a relief window until August 1 for most countries affected by the tariffs—giving room for potential negotiations—China is notably excluded. The president clarified that China already faces separate, previously imposed tariffs due to long-standing trade disputes.
Open to Talks, Trump Says
Despite the strong measures, President Trump has stated he is open to discussions. “If a country’s top leader reaches out and expresses willingness to talk about these tariffs, we are prepared to negotiate,” he said.
Why the Tariffs?
Explaining the rationale behind the sweeping tariffs, Trump remarked, “The United States has been facing consistent losses in trade with several countries. While they benefit from access to American markets, they often impose barriers on our exports. We are no longer going to allow this imbalance to continue.”
With this latest announcement, Trump has further cemented his stance on reshaping global trade in America’s favor, even at the risk of escalating tensions with long-time trading partners. All eyes now turn to how the affected countries—and global markets—will respond.
