Donald Trump has imposed the highest American import tariffs in more than a century, with certain countries facing rates as high as 50 per cent.
On Wednesday, the US president declared that nearly all exporters to the US will be subject to baseline tariffs of at least 10 per cent, with considerably higher levies applied to nations with the biggest trade surpluses.
In many of those countries, the effects of the Trump administration's cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) programme were exacerbated, with south-east Asian countries and some of the world's weakest economies suffering the most.
• Read more: Everything we know about Donald Trump's tariffs and how they will impact the UK
But how do the tariffs compare between nations and why has China been hit hard?
How do they compare with other nations?
10% tariff group
Beginning on April 5, some nations, including the UK, will only be subject to what the White House referred to as the "baseline" 10 per cent duty on their imports into the US.
Other nations in this 10 per cent group include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Turkey, Colombia, Argentina, El Salvador, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Ukraine.
Due to the UK's heavy reliance on imported goods, a wide array of items available in the UK could see a price hike, including supermarket items, cars, mortgages, foil and kitchenware.
Many of the top car manufacturers are well-established in the US market, particularly luxury European brands like Mercedes Benz and BMW.
Furthermore, inflation in the world economy may have a direct effect on interest rates in the UK, which would affect mortgage payments. Given the volatility in the world's financial markets, a rate drop next month is less likely because the Bank of England is in charge of determining these rates.
Due to Trump's previously announced tariffs on aluminium imports to the US, which went into force last month, UK shoppers may see price increases for foil, cookware, and drink cans.
Countries that were exempt from new tariffs
Only a small number of tariff exclusions were granted, and they were mostly related to unusual situations or current trade agreements.
The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) exempted Canada from both the baseline and reciprocal tariffs of 10 per cent.
The White House stated that the baseline tariff may eventually be changed or removed, but it is still subject to a separate 25 per cent tariff on the majority of commodities and 10 per cent on energy exports that were put in place in February 2025 in response to immigration and drug-trafficking concerns.
Due to the USMCA, Mexico was spared from the new tariffs; nevertheless, it will still be subject to the same 25 per cent tax starting in February 2025, with the possibility of future alignment with the new framework.
Due to pre-existing restrictions or high tariffs, Russia, North Korea, Cuba, and Belarus were also exempt from new levies.
Only a small number of tariff exclusions were granted, and they were mostly related to unusual situations or current trade agreements.
Those hit by the hardest
Under Trump's so-called "reciprocal tariff" policy, a select few nations are subject to the highest tariff rates; the White House claims this is because of their substantial trade surpluses with the US or high export barriers to the US. These heavy tariffs are set to come into effect on April 9.
A 34 per cent reciprocal tariff has been imposed on China, a significant trading partner and rival of the US, on top of a 20 per cent tax that was already in place in 2025, putting the total up to 54 per cent. China, accusing Trump of “unilateral bullying”, has threatened retaliatory action.
With a rate of 49 per cent, Cambodia was also hard hit by the tariffs.
Most people in this developing country work in agriculture, and small-scale farmers are particularly exposed to land disputes, climate change, and shifting crop prices.
Despite taking immediate steps to minimise its trade imbalance with Washington in recent weeks, including lowering taxes on a wide range of commodities headed for the US, Vietnam, a key exporter to the US, was slammed with a 46 per cent tariff.
According to US authorities, the high tax was put in place as the nation increasingly served as a conduit for Chinese goods looking to avoid tariffs. In the past, Chinese firms have shifted their operations to nations like Vietnam and Cambodia in order to avoid trade obstacles and to save operating expenses.
Despite being one of the world's greatest exporters, Sri Lanka was also subject to 44 per cent tariff.
Bangladesh, a leading exporter of clothing, was severely harmed by the 37 per cent tariff. Its clothing industry, which generates around $7bn a year from US exports, has been in trouble since its leadership was overthrown in August last year.
Under Trump's new trade policy, Thailand will be subject to a reciprocal duty of 36 per cent. This focuses on its substantial trade surplus and obstacles, which affect exports to the US of goods like textiles and electronics.
Here is the full list of countries impacted (excluding the 10 per cent tariff group):
Why has China had the toughest sanctions imposed on them?
In his hour-long address, Trump said: “I have great respect for President Xi [Jinping] of China, great respect for China, but they were taking tremendous advantage of us.”
Showing a chart with nations and territories he said had imposed trade restrictions on US exports, Trump said: “If you look at that... China, first row, 67 per cent. That's tariffs charged to the USA, including currency manipulation and trade barriers.
“We are going to be charging [them] a discounted reciprocal tariff of 34 per cent. In other words, they charge us, we charge them, we charge them less. So how can anybody be upset?”
This presents a concerning image for Beijing, according to Deborah Elms of the Hinrich Foundation consulting firm, who thinks the tariffs aren’t exactly aimed at China.
She said in a statement: “I don't think the new tariffs are necessarily aimed at China. But when the United States stacks tariffs on top of each other, specifically towards China, the numbers become eye-watering quite quickly.
“China and the Chinese will have to retaliate. They are not going to be able to sit back and watch this.”
According to analysts, Trump's tariff policy aims to prevent international corporations from using tactics to evade US duties on Chinese goods.
Pushan Dutt, a professor at the INSEAD business school, told the BBC: “China has a problem with demand and, in the last Trump administration, their firms had nimbly reacted to tariffs by rejigging supply chains and moving them to [south-east Asian nations]. This door has been slammed shut.”
Asian nations should "work together to go through this difficult time and fight protectionism", according to Wang Huiyao, a former member of the China Communist Party who works for the Center for China and Globalization thinktank.
He added that: “In the end, the US could be losing all the influence and isolate itself.”
