Tariff rates soar up to 41% as US reshapes global trade ties
WASHINGTON:
President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping new wave of tariffs targeting multiple global trade partners, with import duties reaching as high as 41% in some cases. The tariffs—set to take effect within a week—impact a wide range of countries and sectors, with immediate implications for global trade dynamics.

Here’s a country-by-country breakdown of the key developments:

🇵🇰 Pakistan

Pakistan welcomed a new trade deal with the United States—its largest export market—expressing optimism that the agreement would boost investor confidence. However, the White House confirmed a 19% tariff on Pakistani imports under the revised terms.

This follows tense negotiations dating back to April, when Trump initially threatened 29% tariffs on Pakistani goods. The deal appears to be a compromise, though still tighter than Islamabad had hoped for.

In a separate announcement, Trump hinted at U.S. cooperation in developing Pakistan’s “massive oil reserves,” though no concrete details were shared.

🇨🇦 Canada

Tariffs on select Canadian goods will rise from 25% to 35%, effective immediately. This escalation follows Canada’s declaration of support for Palestinian statehood ahead of the UN General Assembly session in September.

“Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them.”

Items under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will remain exempt from these new tariffs.

🇲🇽 Mexico

Planned increases on Mexican imports have been postponed by 90 days, following a direct call between Trump and President Claudia Sheinbaum.

The hike, originally scheduled for August 1 (from 25% to 30%), was tied to what Trump called insufficient progress on curbing the trafficking of illicit fentanyl. Goods protected under the USMCA remain unaffected.

🇰🇷 South Korea

Washington and Seoul reached a last-minute agreement to reduce the planned tariff rate from 25% to 15% on South Korean imports. In return, South Korea pledged to invest $350 billion in the U.S. economy and to purchase $100 billion worth of American energy products, including liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Auto tariffs will also remain capped at 15%.

🇧🇷 Brazil

Trump announced a harsh 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, though implementation has been delayed until August 6, and exemptions were granted for products like orange juice and civil aircraft.

The move appears politically motivated, targeting Brazilian officials and especially Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, over what Trump labeled a “witch hunt” against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a key ally.

🇮🇳 India

Indian exports will face a 25% tariff starting August 1, slightly lower than the initially threatened rate. In addition, India may be hit with a yet-to-be-specified “penalty” over its continued defense and energy ties with Russia.

“I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,” Trump wrote on social media.

🇪🇺 European Union

EU exports to the U.S. will be subject to a 15% tariff, down from a previously considered 30% rate, following a negotiated agreement.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that some agricultural goods would be exempt, though details are still unclear. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to remain tough in future discussions.

“It’s not the end of it,” Macron told his cabinet.

As Trump reshapes America’s trade policy landscape ahead of the 2026 election cycle, businesses and governments around the world are now scrambling to adapt to a more unpredictable and protectionist U.S. trade posture.