Under the second administration of Trump, new tariff levels were applied to more than 80 countries with rates of 10% to 50%. Allegedly constant trade deficit and unjust foreign trade barriers cause damage to American industry and threaten national security, even in cases where the United States has a surplus of trading balance
despite the fact that in 2024 of the United States a surplus of goods in the amount of 7 billion US dollars with Brazil, they received the highest rate. In addition to the statements that trade with Brazil was unfair to the States, Trump used tariffs to put pressure on the Brazilian judicial power in connection with the criminal case with the participation of the former President Bolsonaro, which the Republican called the “political execution.” A fine for purchasing Russian energy and weapons.
Meanwhile, other large trading partners with a large deficit in the United States observed relatively moderate tariffs. For example, the deficit of Vietnam (123 billion), Taiwan (74 billion) and Japan (69 billion) were placed in a range of 15-20%. The European Union received a 15% tariff for most goods, despite a huge deficit of 236 billion.
North American neighbors hit hard
at the beginning of the year, President Trump threatened to introduce tariffs of 25% on Mexican imports and 35% of Canadian imports. He substantiated these threats within the framework of his strategy to combat illegal immigration, reducing the flow of drugs in and eliminating the US trade deficit with both countries.
on August 1, he raised tariffs to 35% not covered by the US Caucas-Mexican Agreement, while the Mexican was produced by Mexico 90 days before the entry into force of any increase. Since the goods that meet the rules of the origin of USMCA are released, the vast majority of Canadian exports - more than 85-95% - still enters the United States without duties.
