U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping new wave of import tariffs targeting a group of countries including Iraq, Libya, Algeria, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Moldova, and the Philippines. The decision, unveiled on his social media platform Truth Social, marks a continuation of Trump’s push for “reciprocal and fair” trade policies as part of his economic strategy.
Effective from August 1, 2025, the tariffs include:
- 30% duties on goods from Iraq, Libya, Algeria, and Sri Lanka
- 25% duties on imports from Brunei and Moldova
- 20% duty on products originating from the Philippines
The measures were described as “unilateral tariff corrections” intended to rebalance trade relationships that Trump has characterized as unfair to the United States. He also warned that countries aligning with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) or pursuing what he termed “anti-American economic stances” could face a further 10% surcharge.
Although the U.S. imports significant crude oil volumes from countries like Iraq and Libya, oil will remain exempt from the tariffs, reflecting the White House’s concern about energy market stability. In 2023, U.S. imports of Iraqi oil alone exceeded $8.9 billion.
Trade data shows the U.S. ran goods trade deficits of:
- $5.8 billion with Iraq
- $1.4 billion with Algeria
- $898 million with Libya in 2024
The announcement comes shortly after Trump postponed the broader implementation of his “Reciprocal Trade Reform Plan” to allow time for diplomatic engagement. Despite this, formal communications have already been sent to the affected governments. Some analysts suggest this could escalate tensions with certain trading partners and further disrupt global supply chains.
No official responses from the governments of Iraq, Algeria, Libya, Sri Lanka, or the Philippines had been issued at the time of reporting.
Critics warn that the new tariffs could raise prices for U.S. consumers, particularly in sectors reliant on imported goods from the targeted countries. Proponents, however, argue that the move could encourage domestic manufacturing and reduce dependency on foreign economies.
As the global community reacts to these developments, Trump’s trade policy continues to signal a departure from traditional multilateral frameworks, favoring unilateral measures to assert U.S. economic interests.
