When U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping policy of reciprocal import tariffs, it sent shockwaves through global markets and governments alike. Some countries, including Zambia, had already offered to eliminate all tariffs on U.S. goods in a bid to avoid being targeted by the new trade measures.
- Business Insider Africa presents countries that offered to drop all tariffs on U.S goods.
- Trump announced a policy of reciprocal import tariffs affecting more than 180 countries.
- Zambia and Vietnam offered to eliminate all tariffs on U.S. goods to avoid new trade measures.
When U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping policy of reciprocal import tariffs, it sent shockwaves through global markets and governments alike. The new policy, targeting more than 180 countries, including several in Africa, marks a dramatic shift in America’s trade stance.
DON’T MISS THIS: Full list of Trump’s reciprocal tariffs for African countries
The premise is straightforward: if a country imposes high tariffs on U.S. goods, the U.S. will respond with equal or similar duties on imports from that country. Trump declared the rollout of these measures as “Liberation Day,” portraying it as a decisive move to end what he calls unfair trade practices.
The announcement sparked immediate turbulence across the global trade landscape. Governments and investors reacted with a mix of alarm and urgency, triggering threats of retaliation, calls for negotiation, and sharp declines in global stock markets as industries scrambled to assess the impact.
In a surprising twist, however, Trump has announced a 90-day pause on the imposition of new tariffs in several countries, signalling a potential window for diplomacy.
Before this development, some countries, including Zambia, had already offered to eliminate all tariffs on U.S. goods in a bid to avoid being targeted by the new trade measures.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the suspension of tariffs on U.S. imports, in a direct response to the Trump administration’s recent decision to impose 18% tariffs on Zimbabwean exports.
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In a post on X, where he tagged both President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Mnangagwa said the move is intended to “facilitate the expansion of American imports into the Zimbabwean market, while also promoting the growth of Zimbabwean exports to the United States.”
Israel
Despite lifting all remaining duties on U.S. imports in a last-minute bid to avoid penalties, Israel was still hit with a 17% tariff under President Trump’s sweeping new trade decree.
The Manufacturers Association of Israel warned that if the tariffs remain in place, Israeli exports could suffer an annual loss of $2.3 billion, potentially putting between 18,000 and 26,000 jobs at risk.
Vietnam
Vietnam was among the first to respond decisively, offering to remove all tariffs on U.S. imports after being hit with a steep 46% duty, one of the highest announced by the Trump administration.
Given that exports to the U.S. account for around 30% of Vietnam’s GDP, the stakes are particularly high. The move also underscores the broader vulnerability of Southeast Asian economies like Cambodia, where U.S. trade makes up roughly a quarter of GDP.
Taiwan
Taiwan adopted a conciliatory tone, with President Lai Ching-te offering a zero-tariff framework as the foundation for renewed trade talks with the U.S. He emphasized Taiwan’s willingness to remove barriers rather than reciprocate with tariffs, and pledged that Taiwanese firms would scale up investments in the American economy.
The offer comes in response to President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement, which includes significantly higher duties for numerous trading partners. Taiwan, which maintains a sizable trade surplus with the U.S., now faces a 32% tariff on its exports.
