Trump defended the decision, saying it was necessary to correct longstanding trade imbalances and what he considered unfair treatment of American products in foreign markets.
He has long advocated for reshaping international trade agreements, claiming that high tariffs imposed by other countries have unfairly subsidised their economies at the expense of the US.
Trump explained that Pakistan has been charging the US a 58% tariff on American goods, which prompted the US to impose a 29% tariff on Pakistani products.
The US remains one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at $7.3 billion in 2024. US exports to Pakistan grew by 4.4% to $2.1 billion, while imports from Pakistan increased by 4.9%, totalling $5.1 billion.
Trump criticised the practice of subsidising foreign economies, stating that the US had long been helping other nations, and urged countries to be more self-reliant.
The United States has also imposed reciprocal tariffs on 40 other countries, with rates ranging from 10% to 50%, as part of a broader effort to address global trade imbalances.
The new tariffs, announced by President Donald Trump, are aimed at countries that have been levying high tariffs on American goods, with the goal of ensuring fairer trade conditions for US industries.
The specific tariff rates imposed are as follows:
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%
Singapore: 10%
Israel: 17%
Philippines: 17%
Chile: 10%
Australia: 10%
Pakistan: 29%
Turkey: 10%
Sri Lanka: 44%
Colombia: 10%
Peru: 10%
Nicaragua: 18%
Norway: 15%
Costa Rica: 10%
Jordan: 20%
Dominican Republic: 10%
United Arab Emirates: 10%
New Zealand: 10%
Argentina: 10%
Ecuador: 10%
Guatemala: 10%
Honduras: 10%
Madagascar: 47%
Myanmar (Burma): 44%
Tunisia: 28%
Kazakhstan: 27%
Serbia: 37%
Egypt: 10%
Saudi Arabia: 10%
El Salvador: 10%
Côte d'Ivoire: 21%
Laos: 48%
Botswana: 37%
Trinidad and Tobago: 10%
Morocco: 10%
Algeria: 30%
Oman: 10%
Uruguay: 10%
Bahamas: 10%
Lesotho: 50%
Ukraine: 10%
Bahrain: 10%
Qatar: 10%
Mauritius: 40%
Fiji: 32%
Iceland: 10%
Kenya: 10%
Liechtenstein: 37%
Guyana: 38%
Haiti: 10%
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 35%
Nigeria: 14%
Namibia: 21%
Brunei: 24%
Bolivia: 10%
Panama: 10%
Venezuela: 15%
North Macedonia: 33%
Ethiopia: 10%
Ghana: 10%
He concluded his speech by reaffirming his "America First" stance, describing trade deficits as a "national emergency." The new tariff rates range from 10% to 49% for various countries, with the US imposing rates that are typically about half of what other nations charge, although in some cases, the rates are identical.
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