Kurdistan Center
for Democracy in the Middle East
Khoyboun Flag
About us
www.kcdme.com
From Iraq to Algeria, Trump’s looming tariffs could target 4 MENA countries
The United States has a trade deficit with Iraq, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, according to the US government, prompting the president to send them letters warning of new tariffs.
10.07.2025
By Adam Lucente
Source: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/07/iraq-algeria-trumps-looming-tariffs-could-target-4-mena-countries
US President Donald Trump this week warned at least 22 countries — including four in the Middle East and North Africa — that they could face steep tariffs unless they strike new trade deals with Washington by Aug. 1.
What happened: Trump sent letters to 14 governments on Monday and at least eight more in the days that followed — including through posts on his Truth Social account — outlining his administration’s intention to impose so-called reciprocal tariffs next month unless bilateral trade agreements can be reached. The threatened tariffs, set to take effect Aug. 1, vary by country and are based on each country’s trade imbalance with the United States, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.
Some of the proposed rates mirror the tariffs Trump first unveiled in April — most of which were subsequently paused — while others reflect lower rates. For example, Tunisia was among the countries notified Monday and is now facing a 25% tariff, while Iraq, Algeria and Libya were each warned on Wednesday that they could face 30% tariffs starting next month.
Trump had initially announced a sweeping tariff regime in early April, including a flat 10% tariff on all imports and a separate set of “reciprocal tariffs” tied to the US trade deficit with individual countries. While the 10% tariff was implemented immediately, most of the higher tariffs were put on hold for 90 days to allow time for negotiations. Since then, the United States has struck deals with China, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
The following is an overview of the trade situation now facing the Middle East and North African countries under threat of new tariffs:
Iraq
The 30% tariff on Iraqi goods is lower than the 39% tariff Trump originally placed on the country in April.
Trade between the United States and Iraq amounted to an estimated $9.1 billion in 2024. There was a $5.8 billion US goods trade deficit with Iraq that year, down 7% from the deficit in 2023, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.
Iraq’s exports to the United States largely consist of oil. Iraq exported $8.92 billion to the United States in 2023, nearly all of which was crude and refined petroleum. The United States exported $1.42 billion to Iraq that year. The largest export was cars, with a $242 million market share, followed by $149 million of rice and $98.7 million in gas turbines, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Oil imports were exempt from the original tariffs Trump announced in April. The Monday statement did not mention oil imports. A White House official told Al-Monitor on Thursday that oil imports would be exempt from the tariffs coming into effect on Aug. 1, along with certain minerals and other products that were likewise exempt in April.
Trump's letters to leaders of the affected countries this week said the tariffs would apply to "any and all" products sent into the United States, separate from sectoral tariffs. Trump has also placed tariffs on the import of cars, aluminum and other products.
Algeria
The 30% tariff on Algeria mirrors the one Trump placed on the country in April.
US-Algeria trade amounted to an estimated $3.5 billion in 2024, and the United States ran a $1.4 billion trade deficit with the country, down 20.9% from the 2023 deficit, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.
Algeria’s trade with the United States is likewise largely based on oil. Refined petroleum made up $1.95 billion out of Algeria’s $3.14 billion exports to the United States in 2023, followed by $531 million in crude petroleum. The top products among the $1.18 billion in US exports to Algeria that year were $189 million in planes and helicopters, $138 million wheat and $129 million in soybeans, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Libya
Libya is set to be subject to a 30% tariff in August, down from the 31% tariff announced in April.
US-Libya trade was estimated at $2.0 billion in 2024, with a $898.3 million US goods trade deficit. The deficit decreased 17.6% from 2023, per the Office of the US Trade Representative.
Nearly all of Libya’s $1.57 billion in exports to the United States in 2023 consisted of crude petroleum. The United States exported $425 million to Libya that year, $198 million of which was cars. The second-largest export was $39.3 million in nuts, per the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Tunisia
The 25% tariff on Tunisia is a decrease from the 28% rate in April.
The Office of the US Trade Representative estimated US trade with Tunisia at $1.6 billion in 2024. The US trade goods deficit with Tunisia increased 100.8% to $619.6 million in 2024, according to the office.
Tunisia’s top export to the United States in 2023 was olive oil, accounting for $218 million out of the $933 million in exports. The second-largest export was $104 million of fertilizers. The United States exported $712 million to Tunisia that year. The largest export was $95.8 million in soybeans, followed by $63.9 million in planes and helicopters, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Trump said in the letters this week that the tariffs will be removed if companies from said countries “decide to build or manufacture product within the United States.”
On Monday, Trump told reporters that the Aug. 1 deadline for the new tariffs to take effect is not necessarily a hard date.
“I would say firm, but not 100% firm,” he said of the deadline.
The Washington embassies of Iraq, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia did not immediately respond to Al-Monitor's request for comment.
Know more: Trump warned on Monday that he would place an additional 10% tariff on any country aligning itself with BRICS, referencing the bloc’s "Anti-American policies” in a post on Truth Social.
The comments were made during the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro. The economic and political organization originally founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China expanded into the Middle East in 2024, adding the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Iran as new members. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly called for stronger central bank cooperation and use of local currency at Monday’s summit.
The United States has a trade deficit with Iraq, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, according to the US government, prompting the president to send them letters warning of new tariffs.
10.07.2025
By Adam Lucente
Source: https://www.al-
US President Donald Trump this week warned at least 22 countries — including four in the Middle East and North Africa — that they could face steep tariffs unless they strike new trade deals with Washington by Aug. 1.
What happened: Trump sent letters to 14 governments on Monday and at least eight more in the days that followed — including through posts on his Truth Social account — outlining his administration’s intention to impose so-
Some of the proposed rates mirror the tariffs Trump first unveiled in April — most of which were subsequently paused — while others reflect lower rates. For example, Tunisia was among the countries notified Monday and is now facing a 25% tariff, while Iraq, Algeria and Libya were each warned on Wednesday that they could face 30% tariffs starting next month.
Trump had initially announced a sweeping tariff regime in early April, including a flat 10% tariff on all imports and a separate set of “reciprocal tariffs” tied to the US trade deficit with individual countries. While the 10% tariff was implemented immediately, most of the higher tariffs were put on hold for 90 days to allow time for negotiations. Since then, the United States has struck deals with China, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
The following is an overview of the trade situation now facing the Middle East and North African countries under threat of new tariffs:
Iraq
The 30% tariff on Iraqi goods is lower than the 39% tariff Trump originally placed on the country in April.
Trade between the United States and Iraq amounted to an estimated $9.1 billion in 2024. There was a $5.8 billion US goods trade deficit with Iraq that year, down 7% from the deficit in 2023, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.
Iraq’s exports to the United States largely consist of oil. Iraq exported $8.92 billion to the United States in 2023, nearly all of which was crude and refined petroleum. The United States exported $1.42 billion to Iraq that year. The largest export was cars, with a $242 million market share, followed by $149 million of rice and $98.7 million in gas turbines, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Oil imports were exempt from the original tariffs Trump announced in April. The Monday statement did not mention oil imports. A White House official told Al-
Trump's letters to leaders of the affected countries this week said the tariffs would apply to "any and all" products sent into the United States, separate from sectoral tariffs. Trump has also placed tariffs on the import of cars, aluminum and other products.
Algeria
The 30% tariff on Algeria mirrors the one Trump placed on the country in April.
US-
Algeria’s trade with the United States is likewise largely based on oil. Refined petroleum made up $1.95 billion out of Algeria’s $3.14 billion exports to the United States in 2023, followed by $531 million in crude petroleum. The top products among the $1.18 billion in US exports to Algeria that year were $189 million in planes and helicopters, $138 million wheat and $129 million in soybeans, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Libya
Libya is set to be subject to a 30% tariff in August, down from the 31% tariff announced in April.
US-
Nearly all of Libya’s $1.57 billion in exports to the United States in 2023 consisted of crude petroleum. The United States exported $425 million to Libya that year, $198 million of which was cars. The second-
Tunisia
The 25% tariff on Tunisia is a decrease from the 28% rate in April.
The Office of the US Trade Representative estimated US trade with Tunisia at $1.6 billion in 2024. The US trade goods deficit with Tunisia increased 100.8% to $619.6 million in 2024, according to the office.
Tunisia’s top export to the United States in 2023 was olive oil, accounting for $218 million out of the $933 million in exports. The second-
Trump said in the letters this week that the tariffs will be removed if companies from said countries “decide to build or manufacture product within the United States.”
On Monday, Trump told reporters that the Aug. 1 deadline for the new tariffs to take effect is not necessarily a hard date.
“I would say firm, but not 100% firm,” he said of the deadline.
The Washington embassies of Iraq, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia did not immediately respond to Al-
Know more: Trump warned on Monday that he would place an additional 10% tariff on any country aligning itself with BRICS, referencing the bloc’s "Anti-
The comments were made during the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro. The economic and political organization originally founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China expanded into the Middle East in 2024, adding the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Iran as new members. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly called for stronger central bank cooperation and use of local currency at Monday’s summit.