Asian countries riven by war and disaster face some of steepest Trump tariffs | Trump tariffs
Developing countries in Southeast Asia, including a war and a banner of the earthquake MyanmarAnd many African countries are among the trading partners who face the highest definitions that Donald Trump has developed.
Lifting contracts from American trade policy and the threat to launch a global trade war, the US President A set of definitions announced On Wednesday he said he was designed to prevent the American economy from “fraud.”
“This is one of the most important days, in my opinion, in American history,” Trump said on Wednesday. “It is our declaration of economic independence.”
He praised the moment as the “liberation day”, but it is possible that the definitions are likely to meet with noisy protests from some arches of economies in the world. One of the experts said Trump is likely to target the countries that receive investment from China, regardless of the situation in this country. Chinese manufacturers have already moved to countries like Vietnam and Cambodia Not only because of the low operating costs, but also to avoid tariffs.
The definitions come because many countries in Southeast Asia are already Struggle with repercussions from discounts to the United States Agency for International DevelopmentWhich provides humanitarian assistance to a region vulnerable to natural disasters and support for supportive activists who fight repressive systems.
Cambodia, the developing economy where 17.8 % of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is the worst country in the region with a tariff rate of 49 %. More than half of the country’s factories According to the Chinese ownedWith the export of countries dominated by clothes and shoes.
In second place, the state of Laos is located in Southeast Asia coastal, a country where the United States has been bombed strongly during the Cold War, by 48 %. According to ADB, Laos Poverty rate is 18.3 %.
Not far from Vietnam by 46 % and Myanmar, a nation Tern from a devastating earthquake On Friday, years of civil war after a military coup 2021, by 44 %.
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, faces a 32 % tariff rate, while Thailand, the second largest, may be offered at a rate of 36 %.
The main partner of the United States and a commercial partner China It was hit with a 34 % mutual tariff, as well as a 20 % tax imposed.
Dr. Seyge Darma Negara, an older colleague at the Ishov Institute in Singapore, said the tariff in Southeast Asian countries was really aiming to harm China.
He said: “The administration believes that by targeting these countries, they can target Chinese investment in countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Indonesia. By targeting their products, this may affect Chinese exports and economics.”
“The real goal is China, but the real influence on these countries will be very important because this investment creates export jobs and revenues.”
He said that the customs tariff for countries such as Indonesia will be inversely conducive to the United States, and the details of how to apply it remain unclear.
Some clothes and shoes [companies]Some American brands such as Nike, or Adidas, American companies that have factories in Indonesia. Will they face the same definitions as well? ” He said.
Stephen Olson, a former American trade negotiator, said that the countries in Southeast Asia will have to review their relations with Washington. “The result may be the result facing the close tilt towards China. It is difficult to have constructive and fruitful relationships with a country that has just dropped a ton of bricks on your head,” said Olson, a visitor colleague at the Youssef Ethak Institute.
He added: “The largest importer in the world has now commented a sign of his borders, saying: closed to work.” “We are now facing reasonable scenarios: Either the affected commercial partners occupy and praise the hope of forcing Trump to retreat, or they are looking to cut off Trump’s deals in order to avoid definitions. None of the scenario is well ended.”
Other countries are among the most difficult strokes are several countries in Africa, including Lesoto – Country Trump claimed “no one heard” – With 50 %, Madagascar with 47 % and Botswana with 37 %. Lesoto, the small mountainous kingdom surrounded by South Africa, has the second highest level of HIV infection, with nearly one of every four adults positive HIV.
In South Asia, Sri Lanka faces a 44 % tariff. In Europe, Serbia faces a rate of 37 %.
In addition to the mutual definitions on a few dozen countries, Trump will impose a 10 % global tariff on all imported goods. This tariff will enter April 5, while mutual definitions will start on April 9.
The US President has justified changes by saying that they suffer from revenge for the countries that “cheated” America for a long time, and will return the jobs to the United States.
But economists have warned that comprehensive changes will raise costs, threaten jobs, slow growth and isolate the United States from the global trade system that have been pioneering, and enhance over several decades.
“This is the way you tell the world’s economic engine while demanding its inspection,” said Nigel Green, CEO of Devere Group Dever Group Global Devere Group.
“The truth is blatant: this customs tariff will pay prices up on thousands of daily commodities – from phones to food – which will lead to inflation at a time when it is indeed uncomfortable.”
