Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs on Kazakh Imports, Sparking Concern
US President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on imports from several countries, including Kazakhstan. The move, set to take effect on August 1, imposes a 25% tax on Kazakh goods exported to the US. This has sparked concern in Kazakhstan, with its export-dependent sectors, such as metals and raw materials, particularly affected.
The tariffs come as a response from Trump to 'protect the United States from unfair trade'. He described the economic relationship between the two countries as 'not reciprocal'. In 2021, Kazakhstan exported goods worth nearly $2 billion to the US, representing around 2.4% of its total exports. Its main exports include oil, uranium, ferroalloys, and silver.
Trump has offered an exemption from these tariffs for companies that establish production facilities in the US or integrate American partners into their supply chains. However, he has stated that the tariffs are 'negotiable' only if Kazakhstan signals readiness for new agreements that better serve US interests.
Kazakhstan is considering several reactions to the tariffs. These include negotiating with Washington, increasing US investments, diversifying export markets, or expanding domestic processing. International stock markets, including the Dow Jones, dropped noticeably the next day due to the announced tariffs.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan has not yet made a public statement regarding Trump's announced tariffs. The Kazakh government is currently evaluating its response, with the aim of protecting its export-dependent sectors and maintaining a balanced economic relationship with the US.
