What tariffs has Trump announced and why?
- Published
Since returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump has introduced a sweeping global programme of tariffs, and threatened many more.
Imports from countries with which Trump has political grievances are subject to particularly high rates. Goods from other countries who have agreed trade deals face lower duties.
Trump argues that the tariffs boost American manufacturing and protect jobs, but the volatility of his trade policy has thrown the world economy into chaos, and a number of firms have increased prices for US consumers as a result.
What are tariffs and how do they work?
Tariffs are taxes charged on goods bought from other countries.
Typically, they are a percentage of a product's value.
A 10% tariff means a $10 product has a $1 tax on top - taking the total cost to the importer of $11 (£8.20).
Companies that bring foreign goods into the US have to pay the tax to the government.
They may pass some or all of the extra cost on to customers. Firms may also decide to import fewer goods.
At the end of May, a US trade court ruled that Trump did not have the authority to impose some of the tariffs he has announced, because he did so under national emergency powers.
But the following day, an appeals court said the relevant taxes could stay in place while the case continued.
Why is Trump using tariffs?
Trump says tariffs will encourage US consumers to buy more American-made goods, increase the amount of tax raised and boost investment.
He wants to reduce the gap between the value of goods the US buys from other countries and those it sells to them - known as the trade deficit. He argues that America has been taken advantage of by "cheaters", and "pillaged" by foreigners.
The president has announced different tariffs against specific goods, and imports from individual countries.
Many of these have been subsequently amended, delayed or cancelled altogether.
Critics accuse Trump of making dramatic and sometimes contradictory policy statements as a negotiating tactic to encourage trade partners to agree deals that benefit the US.
Trump has made other demands alongside the tariffs.
Setting out the first tariffs of his current term against China, Mexico and Canada, he said all three countries must do more to stop migrants and illegal drugs reaching the US.
Separately, on 14 July, Trump threatened to introduce significant tariffs against companies trading with Russia, if a deal to end the war in Ukraine was not reached within 50 days.
Which tariffs has the US put in place on specific goods?
The taxes on goods imported to the US include:
50% tariff on steel and aluminium imports
50% tariff on copper imports
25% tariff on foreign-made cars and imported engines and other car parts
On 8 July, Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on pharmaceutical imports but no further details have been confirmed.
Trump has also said the global tariff exemption covering goods valued at $800 or less will end on 29 August.
He had already removed the so-called "de minimis" exemption for products from China and Hong Kong, to restrict American's purchase of cheap clothes and household items from commerce sites like Shein and Temu.
It means that while gifts worth less than $100 will remain duty-free, all other packages will face the same tariff rate as other goods from their country of origin.
Some international postal services - including Royal Mail and Germany's DHL - said they would temporarily suspend parcel deliveries to the US while they clarify how the new rules will work in practice.
The US is the biggest importer of steel in the world after the EU, with most coming from Canada, Brazil, Mexico and South Korea
Which tariffs has the US put in place against individual countries?
A patchwork of different rates is now in effect.
Many of these stem from an announcement on 2 April, when Trump said a "baseline tariff" of 10% would apply to all other imports from all countries.
The US president said goods from about 60 other trade partners which the White House described as the "worst offenders" would face higher rates, as payback for unfair trade policies.
These "reciprocal" tariffs were later postponed for 90 days to allow time to negotiate individual trade deals. The deadline was then extended until 1 August and then to 7 August.
Tariff rates that are now in effect include:
50% tariffs on Indian goods
50% tariffs on Brazilian goods
30% tariffs on South African goods
20% tariffs on Vietnamese goods
19% tariffs on Indonesian goods
19% tariffs on Filipino goods
15% tariffs on Japanese goods
15% tariffs on South Korean goods
The European Union (EU) managed to strike a deal with the US during Trump's window for negotiations.
In late July, the two sides agreed that European goods would face 15% tariffs - including cars. Under the deal - which needs to be approved by all 27 EU members - the trading bloc will charge US firms 0% duty on certain products.
Trump said the agreement with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was "the biggest deal ever made"
Some of the first tariffs that were announced during Trump's second presidency targeted China, Canada and Mexico. These were later amended, increased or postponed.
A 35% tariff will also apply to all Canadian goods on top of existing duties. This excludes products covered by the existing North American free trade agreement (NAFTA) between Canada, the US and Mexico.
However, Trump has delayed imposing higher tariffs on all Mexican goods for another 90 days to strike a deal. Earlier, Trump had threated 30% or a higher rate to match any retaliatory duties introduced on US imports.
US-Chinese trade negotiations are ongoing.
The two countries had raised tariffs on each other's goods to more than 100% before temporarily lowering rates for a 90-day period.
That pause, which was set to end on 12 August, was extended for another 90 days to 10 November.
What have the UK and US agreed on tariffs?
At 10%, the UK has negotiated the lowest US tariff rate so far.
The UK exported about £58bn of goods to the US in 2024, external, mainly cars, machinery and pharmaceuticals.
The 10% rate applies to the first 100,000 UK vehicles exported to the US every year, which is roughly the number of cars sold in 2024. Each vehicle above the quota would face the standard 25% car tariff.
The agreement also lets the two countries sell beef to each other - although the government insists there will be no change to the UK's higher food safety standards.
Some US ethanol will face 0% tariffs, compared to the previous rate of 19%.
The two countries agreed an initial framework in May. Trump announced "the deal was done" at the G7 summit in Canada in June.
However, he did not confirm the expected removal of charges on steel imports from the UK which was outlined in May. Although the UK is the only country which does not have to pay 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium, a 25% tariff remains.
How has the global economy responded to Trump's tariffs?
Trump's various announcements have caused volatility on global stock markets, where firms sell shares in their business. However markets have recently been more stable.
Many people are affected by stock market price changes, even if they don't invest in shares directly, because of the knock-on effect on pensions, jobs and interest rates.
The value of the US dollar, usually considered a safe asset, has also fallen sharply at times.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the influential Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) both downgraded their predictions for global economic growth in 2025 as a result of the tariffs.
Both organisations expect the US economy to be badly affected.
The latest figures show the US economy grew at an annual rate of 3% between April and June 2025, after shrinking in the first three months of the year.
The president insists his trade policy is working, but influential voices within his own Republican Party have joined opposition Democrats and foreign leaders in attacking the measures.
Are prices going up for US consumers?
Analysts say tariffs are already feeding into the overall US inflation rate, as businesses pass on some or all of their higher costs.
Prices rose by 2.7% in the year to June, up from 2.4% the previous month reflecting increases in items including clothing, coffee, toys and appliances.
Adidas has confirmed it will raise prices for American customers as a result of the tariffs. Almost half of the company's products are made in Vietnam and Indonesia which are facing levies of 20% and 19% respectively.
Nike has also said US prices will increase, warning the tariffs could add $1bn (£730m) to its costs.
Barbie maker Mattel also plans to charge more in the US.
Some companies are choosing to import fewer foreign goods, which can make those which are available more expensive.
The costs of goods manufactured in the US using imported components are also expected to rise.
For example, car parts typically cross the US, Mexican and Canadian borders multiple times before a vehicle is completely assembled.
The new tariffs have also resulted in tighter customs checks at the US border, leading to delays at the border.
Trump: The First 100 Days
Mr Trump's return to the White House has seen sweeping change in the US and far beyond. From tariffs to Ukraine and much more, there have been dozens of new policies. So, what does it all mean?