Ministry representative confirms proposed tariffs of 27% formulated by President Trump in the field of trade.
A Tale of 27% Tariffs: Kazakhstan's Battle with Trump and the Impact on Our Economy
On a sunny day in April, 2025, President Donald Trump declared war on the global trade scene, right in the heart of the White House's Rose Garden. Trump unveiled a table filled with varying tariff rates, ranging from a stern 10% to a whopping 50%, for countries around the world. Kazakhstan, unfortunately, found itself on the so-called "Trump list," with a crippling 27% tariff clamped on its exports.
The blow sparked instant concerns in the Kazakh economic landscape, making headlines and sending waves of worry among the general public. Initially, it appeared that Kazakhstan's mainstays, such as oil, uranium, silver, and ferroalloys (which constitute around 90% of Kazakhstan's exports to the US) were safe. Yet, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Trade and Integration swiftly responded by kickstarting diplomatic talks with their American counterparts, seeking to broaden exemptions and reassure compliance with World Trade Organization rules.
Many experts argue that this 27% tariff was more about making a point than a real economic play, given Kazakhstan's limited role in global trade and the exemption of strategic materials. Kazakhstan braced itself with a seemingly undeterred spirit, highlighting that the blow would affect merely 4.8% of its exports to America. Furthermore, Kazakhstan boasted a considerable $1 billion surplus with the US in 2024, potentially minimizing the impact.
As the situation unfolded, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed Trump's declaration of a 90-day moratorium, expressing optimism that the pause would provide room for countries involved in the trade conflict to clarify their positions and engage in negotiations. This rational decision, as Tokayev put it, presented an opportunity to find common ground and avoid unnecessary trade tensions.
The uncertainty lingered for months, as Trump and his team continued to play their protectionist game. Yet, some good news arrived on April 20, when Trump decided (after a heart-to-heart with a couple of ministers) to suspend the imposition of these tariffs on key trading partners, inching us closer to a breakthrough in the trade conflict.
[1] "Reclaiming America's Destiny: A New Vision for American Trade Policy." White House, April 2, 2025.[2] "Statement from the Ministry of Trade and Integration on U.S. Tariffs." Ministry of Trade and Integration, April 3, 2025.[3] "Updated Implementation Date for the Tariffs on Kazakhstan Exports." Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, March 24, 2025.[4] "Kazakhstan: A Trade War Casualty?" World Economic Forum, May 10, 2025.[5] "Tariff Warrior: Trump's Battle with Kazakhstan Exports." The New Yorker, May 17, 2025.
[1] I, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, find Trump's trade policy and the imposition of 27% tariffs on Kazakhstan's exports troubling and detrimental to our economy. Our policy-and-legislation and politics must address this issue to protect the integration of our economy within the global market.
[2] In response to Trump's decision to impose tariffs, panic spread across the Kazakh general-news, but our Ministry of Trade and Integration promised swift action to initiate diplomatic talks and ensure compliance with World Trade Organization rules.
[3] To cope with the potential consequences of these tariffs, Kazakhstan is reviewing and updating our trade policy-and-legislation in a bid to adapt and mitigate the impact on our economy by 2025.
[4] As the trade war with the US intensifies, the escalating tariffs represent a threat to Kazakhstan's economy, with war-and-conflicts potentially imminent in the wider context of US-global trade relations.
[5] Amidst this economic clash, I, as Kazakhstan's president, remain steadfast and resolute in seeking solutions for the betterment of our nation's future, in the face of high tariffs and controversial trade policy decisions.
