When President Trump signed the "Liberation Day" executive order on April 2, 2025, global trade was reshaped overnight. More than 180 countries received new tariff rates — some as high as 145% for China, others as low as the universal 10% baseline floor. A year on, the rates remain in force, markets have adjusted, and millions of consumers are still asking the same question: what exactly is my country paying?
Here is the complete breakdown — every major country, what they're paying, why, and what's exempt.
How Trump's Tariff Formula Works
The White House calculated each country's tariff rate using a simplified version of its "tariff gap" formula: the U.S. trade deficit with a country divided by that country's total exports to the U.S., then halved. The logic was to match what the administration claimed other countries effectively charge the U.S. through tariffs and non-tariff barriers.
The floor for every country — even allies — is 10%. No country paying tariffs to the U.S. pays less than that.
For most of the world, that 10% baseline is the rate. For major trading partners with large trade surpluses, the numbers go much higher.
Trump Tariff Rates by Country: The Full Table
- China — 145% (escalated after retaliatory measures; largest tariff in modern U.S. history)
- European Union — 20% (applied collectively across all 27 member states)
- Vietnam — 46% (one of the highest in Southeast Asia; large textile/electronics surplus)
- Cambodia — 49% (highest in ASEAN bloc)
- Bangladesh — 37% (major garment exporter)
- Sri Lanka — 44%
- Thailand — 36%
- Taiwan — 32% (semiconductors exempt; base goods at 32%)
- Indonesia — 32%
- Switzerland — 31%
- South Africa — 30%
- India — 26% (tech services not included; physical goods only)
- South Korea — 25%
- Japan — 24%
- Malaysia — 24%
- Pakistan — 29%
- United Kingdom — 10% (baseline; no trade deal yet reached)
- Australia — 10% (baseline)
- Brazil — 10% (baseline)
- Singapore — 10% (baseline)
- New Zealand — 10% (baseline)
- Argentina — 10% (baseline)
- Saudi Arabia — 10% (baseline)
- UAE — 10% (baseline)
China: Why 145%?
China's tariff rate didn't start at 145%. It escalated through a tit-for-tat cycle.
The initial Liberation Day rate for China was 34% on top of existing tariffs already in place from Trump's first term (averaging around 20%). When Beijing announced retaliatory tariffs of 34% on U.S. exports within days, Washington escalated. By mid-April 2025, the combined effective rate on most Chinese imports had crossed 100%. Further rounds pushed it to 145% on most categories by late 2025.
At 145%, it is effectively a near-embargo on many categories. Some U.S. importers have simply stopped sourcing from China. Others absorbed the cost. American consumers saw price increases of 15-30% on electronics, clothing, and furniture.
Canada and Mexico: A Special Case
Canada and Mexico were not part of the April 2 "reciprocal" tariff order. They had already been hit by separate executive orders in February and March 2025, citing fentanyl trafficking and border security.
Goods that comply with the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) remain largely exempt from the new tariffs. Non-USMCA compliant goods from Canada and Mexico face a 25% tariff. Canadian energy (oil, gas) is subject to a lower 10% rate.
Which Countries Are Fully Exempt?
No country is fully exempt from all tariffs, but a handful of U.S. territories and special cases avoid the reciprocal rates:
- Russia and Belarus — already subject to comprehensive sanctions; tariff framework doesn't apply in the same way
- North Korea and Cuba — already under embargo
Key exemptions apply by product category, not by country. These products are excluded from the reciprocal tariff schedule regardless of origin:
- Semiconductors (covered under separate CHIPS Act framework)
- Pharmaceuticals and active pharma ingredients
- Critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, rare earths)
- Copper
- Bulk energy commodities (LNG, oil, coal)
- Steel and aluminum (already under Section 232 tariffs)
- Consumer electronics (laptops, phones) are NOT exempt — common misconception
- Cars from non-USMCA countries face full rates
- Most clothing and textiles face full rates
- Agricultural products are not exempt
The EU at 20%: What It Means for European Goods
The European Union's 20% rate was lower than many expected — the White House formula initially suggested rates as high as 39% on some EU members. The final 20% collective rate was seen as a negotiating position.
The practical impact:
- German cars: A German-made BMW or Mercedes now carries a 20% tariff, on top of the existing 2.5% auto tariff — effectively 22.5%
- French wine and spirits: 20% rate applies. Expect higher prices at retail.
- Italian fashion: 20% on clothing and accessories
- European industrial equipment: 20%, making some U.S. domestic manufacturers more competitive
The EU threatened retaliatory tariffs on $28 billion worth of U.S. exports but paused implementation as negotiations continued through late 2025 and into 2026.
Southeast Asia: The Surprise Targets
Vietnam, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka received some of the highest tariff rates — higher than China's initial rate, though not the post-escalation 145%.
Why? These countries had become major manufacturing hubs precisely because companies were trying to avoid earlier China tariffs. The White House argued that goods labeled "Made in Vietnam" were often still substantially Chinese in origin. The high rates on Southeast Asian nations were an attempt to close that loophole.
Which U.S. Industries Are Benefiting?
Not every industry is suffering. Some domestic producers are gaining ground:
- U.S. steel and aluminum — already protected under Section 232, additional tariffs reinforce the shield
- Domestic apparel manufacturers — limited but real uplift as Asian imports get more expensive
- U.S. auto parts suppliers — benefit from higher foreign car import costs
- U.S. semiconductor fabs — tariff exemptions for chips combined with CHIPS Act subsidies create a favorable environment
But input costs for American manufacturers who rely on foreign components have also risen, a tension economists call the "upstream cost problem."
How to Find Your Product's Tariff Rate
The reciprocal tariffs apply to the country of origin, not the country of shipment. If a product is made in Vietnam and shipped through Singapore, the 46% Vietnam rate applies — not Singapore's 10%.
To find the exact rate for a specific product and country:
- Identify the HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code for your product
- Check the USTR's official tariff schedule at ustr.gov
- Add the reciprocal rate to any existing Section 301 or 232 rates already in place
- Check for product-specific exemptions under Executive Order amendments
What to Expect in the Rest of 2026
Several factors could change the tariff landscape:
- U.S.-EU trade talks: Both sides have signaled interest in a framework deal. If reached, EU rates could fall below 20% or be replaced by quota arrangements.
- India negotiations: The 26% rate has pushed India to the table. A bilateral deal could reduce it to the 10% baseline.
- China escalation or de-escalation: The 145% rate is unsustainable for many supply chains. Watch for product-specific exemptions or quiet diplomacy.
- Congressional action: Courts have challenged the legal basis of some tariffs. Any adverse ruling could trigger revisions.
For businesses, the watchword is flexibility — the tariff map of 2026 may look different by the end of the year.
Bottom Line
Trump's tariff regime is the most sweeping restructuring of U.S. trade policy since the Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930. China bears the heaviest burden at 145%. Southeast Asia got hit harder than most expected. Europe faces 20%. And virtually everyone — even close allies like Australia and the UK — pays at least 10%.
For consumers, prices on imported goods are higher. For manufacturers, costs are up but so are protections. For traders and importers, the old playbook is obsolete — and the new rules require country-of-origin precision, HTS code expertise, and constant monitoring of a tariff schedule that has already changed dozens of times since Liberation Day.
Stay updated at linos.ai as tariff negotiations evolve through 2026.
