The new import tariffs announced by Donald Trump are based primarily on the United States' trade deficit with its partners. However, the calculation method adopted by the U.S. administration has raised many questions. Starting Saturday, a minimum tariff of 10% will apply to all imports, including those from Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, and several Gulf countries. Some nations will face steeper rates: 20% for the EU, 28% for Tunisia, 30% for Algeria, and 34% for China. In a statement released Wednesday evening, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) detailed the methodology used. The approach involves dividing a country's trade surplus with the United States by its total exports, based on 2024 figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. This ratio is then halved—a gesture of «clemency», according to Trump, who presented the formula to the press from the White House Rose Garden. For instance, China has a trade surplus of $295 billion with the United States, compared to $438 billion in exports. This results in a 68% ratio, which is reduced to 34% under the formula. Even countries where the United States runs a trade surplus are not exempt, facing a flat 10% tariff, as is the case for Morocco. The USTR statement acknowledges that the chosen method does not precisely reflect actual trade barriers. However, it argues that the approach aligns with Trump's goal of reducing the trade deficit.
