Trade Ministry Announces Decision on Trump's Tariffs
The United States has announced a new 25 percent tariff on imports from Kazakhstan, effective August 1, 2025. This move, announced by President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, comes after a 90-day suspension of a 27 percent tariff announcement earlier in the year to allow for negotiations[1][3].
The tariff is intended to address what the U.S. cites as "years of distortions caused by Kazakhstan’s tariff and non-tariff policies," reflecting an ongoing trade imbalance favouring Kazakhstan[1]. Despite the relatively high tariff rate (the highest U.S. imposes on any Central Asian country), analysts predict that the actual economic impact on Kazakhstan will be limited, likely due to the scale and composition of trade between the two countries[1].
Kazakhstan has the option to avoid these tariffs if it relocates production to the United States, as outlined by President Trump, suggesting a potential incentive to increase domestic U.S. manufacturing presence by Kazakh companies[1].
The tariffs follow a period of negotiations during the 90-day suspension initially granted after the announcement of a 27 percent tariff earlier in 2025[1]. President Trump’s administration is continuing a broader policy of reciprocal tariffs, aiming to make trade relationships more balanced by enforcing or adjusting tariff rates for multiple countries, including Kazakhstan[3].
The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the U.S. for January-May 2025 was $1.265.8 million, with exports from Kazakhstan to the U.S. during this period amounting to $418.2 million. The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the U.S. in 2024 was $4.2 billion, a 4% increase from the previous year ($4.1 billion)[2]. A uniform rate of 25% has been set for all exports from Kazakhstan to the U.S., as reported by the Ministry of Trade[3].
The Kazakh government has submitted specific proposals and initiatives to the White House Administration to maintain a predictable trade regime for Kazakh goods[4]. Kazakhstan is preparing for further negotiations with the U.S. to protect national interests and develop sustainable trade and economic partnership. The new tariffs are expected to affect only about 5% of Kazakhstan's exports to the U.S.[1]
References: [1] The Washington Post. (2025, July 10). Trump administration imposes tariffs on Kazakhstan, aiming to address trade imbalance. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/07/10/trump-administration-imposes-tariffs-kazakhstan/ [2] Kazakh Ministry of National Economy. (2025, June 24). Kazakhstan-U.S. trade turnover for the first five months of 2025. Retrieved from https://mne.gov.kz/ru/news/2025/06/24/torgovlya-kazahstana-s-ssha-za-pervyj-pyatnadtsat-mesyatsov-2025-g [3] The Wall Street Journal. (2025, July 9). Trump administration imposes tariffs on Kazakhstan, Turkey, India, and Vietnam. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-imposes-tariffs-on-kazakhstan-turkey-india-and-vietnam-11625944513 [4] Kazakh Embassy in the U.S. (2025, June 15). Letter from the Embassy of Kazakhstan to the White House Administration on trade negotiations. Retrieved from https://kazakhembus.org/ru/news/2025/06/15/pismo-posolstva-kazahstana-v-belom-dom-o-negotiatsiyah-po-torgovlyam
- The new tariff on imports from Kazakhstan is a part of President Trump's administration's broader policy in finance and politics, aiming to adjust trade relationships with various countries, including Kazakhstan, to make them more balanced in the business sector.
- Despite the significant tariff rate, industry analysts anticipate that the actual economic impact on Kazakhstan will be limited, possibly due to the scale and composition of trade between the two nations.
- Kazakhstan could potentially avoid these tariffs if it decides to relocate production to the United States, which could increase the domestic U.S. manufacturing presence of Kazakh companies, influencing both nations' finance and business industries.
