Trump's tariffs across Asia

What are tariffs? 

A tariff is a duty or tax applied on the import of goods into a country. Typically, this tax is a percentage of a good’s value and the upfront cost of a tariff is paid by the company importing it.

Below is a list of the tariffs announced by Trump that will be rolling out across Asia.  

These tariffs don’t include sector-specific tariffs, such as the 25 percent that will be applied on all foreign automobiles coming into the US. Some Asian countries – like South Korea and Japan in particular – have large auto sectors with long-established ties to the US. However, sector-specific tariffs won't be applied on top of those announced previously.

Trump has also announced a ‘baseline’ 10 percent tariff for most US trading partners, which came into effect on April 5. Higher tariffs – which the president has called ‘reciprocal’ tariffs against partners who have treated the US unfairly – come into effect on April 9.

Reciprocal tariffs, Trump has said, have been levied against trading partners with higher tariffs against US goods, or who have had barriers to trade.

Since the announcements, governments across Asia have been scrambling to address the new tariff rates, while Asian stock markets have been falling - to levels "not seen in decades".

A screenshot of the reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Trump. Image: X.com

China – 34 percent (initial)

Trump's initial tariff rate for imported Chinese goods has sparked a tit-for-tat war between the two countries. On April 2, Trump announced a 34 percent tariff, on top of the 20 percent tariff already levied earlier in his presidency. This gave Chinese imports into the US an effective tariff rate of 54 percent.

China was quick to retaliate, implementing its own tariff of 34 percent on imported US goods. The country's Ministry of Commerce released a statement earlier this week, saying it will "fight to the end".

Trump has since hit back, confirming a further 50 percent tariff on China - raising the total tariff on Chinese goods into the US to 104 percent.

China is one of America's largest trading partners, alongside Canada and Mexico - in 2024, China's overall trade surplus hit $US992 billion. Roughly a third of that was with the US.

Top imports from China to the US include smartphones, batteries, toys, and video games.

India - 26 percent

For India, the US is its largest trading partner. In 2024, the total goods trade between the two countries was estimated at USD$129.2billion, with America importing US$87.4 billion from India.

Ahead of Trumps 'Liberation Day', a report from Citi Research placed potential annual losses from tariffs at $US7billion, with sectors such as jewellery, chemicals, and metal products most at-risk.

However, India - often dubbed the 'pharmacy of the world' - will be keeping an eye on details around the pharmaceutical sector. In a fact sheet released by the White House, drugs (and a few other select products) aren't subject to the announced tariffs. However, more sector-specific tariffs, such as the existing 25 percent automobile tax, may be announced in coming days.

Since the tariff announcement, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke, with the aim of moving forward with ongoing India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement talks.

Japan - 24 percent

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi criticised Trump's tariff rate on the country, saying “we have serious concerns about the consistency with the WTO (World Trade Organization) Agreement and the Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement."

Japan and the US have traditionally been longstanding trade partners - in 2022, Japan was one of the country's largest importers, with a value of USD$148.1 billion goods crossing the American border.

Japan is one of the first countries in line to talk trade with US officials over the tariffs. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said there were plans to present a "package" of measures to relieve the pressure.

South Korea - 25 percent

South Korea has already been hit by tariffs - Trump's 25 percent tax on foreign automobiles has been a major concern to the country. Historically, car manufacturers - for example, Hyundai - have been the producers of South Korea's largest exports to the US. This new 25 percent tariff won't be combined with the automobile tariff.

Together with China and Japan, South Korea had made some pre-emptive moves to strengthen trilateral trading relationships ahead of 'Liberation Day'. Trading ministers from the three countries gathered in Seoul on March 30, to announce a 'reinvigoration' of negotiations towards a free trade agreement.

Acting president Han Duck-soo said there are also plans to send its trade minister to the US as soon as possible.

Taiwan – 32 percent 

Like pharmaceuticals, semiconductor chips have been excluded from Trump's tariffs for now. For Taiwan's TSMC - the world's largest chip manufacturer - this will come as good news. Taiwan is a major exporter of machinery and electrical equipment to the US - in 2023, $US52.4billion worth of these products were exported to America.

Thailand - 36 percent

For Thailand, the previous US tariff on Thai imports averaged at two percent, while Thailand's average on US products was eight percent. Trump's tariffs on the Southeast Asian nation were higher than expected and Thai officials are 'eager' to begin trade talks.

The US was Thailand's largest export market last year, "accounting for 18.3 per cent of total shipments, or $54.96 billion," reporting from Channel News Asia said.

Agricultural goods, electronics, and machinery are all key exports from Thailand to the US.

Thailand is currently preparing for trade talks with the US in the wake of Trump's tariff announcements - Thai officials currently have plans to revamp its import duty structure and non-trade barriers, according to reporting from the Bangkok Post.

Viet Nam - 46 percent

Viet Nam is one of the countries that will be most vulnerable to US tariffs. It is a huge exporter to America - reporting puts Viet Nam's exports to the country at between 25 percent and 30 percent of its GDP.

Viet Nam is a hub of smartphone and accessory manufacturing – including for brands such as Apple. The country is also a large producer of textiles and footwear and these tariffs will hit several large American companies. For example, both Nike and Adidas are heavily reliant on Viet Nam facilities – according it its annual report, Nike produced 50 percent of its footwear in Viet Nam in the 2024 financial year.

Viet Nam has officially asked the US to postpone the tariff decision, to give both sides time to develop a reasonable solution. The country has also offered to remove all tariffs on US imports.

Other tariffs across Asia:

Bangladesh – 37 percent 

Philippines – 17 percent 

Sri Lanka – 44 percent  

Cambodia- 49 percent 

Indonesia – 32 percent 

Malaysia - 24 percent

Singapore - 10 percent

Myanmar - 44 percent

Laos - 48 percent

Banner image: President Donald J. Trump signs an Executive Order on on the Administration’s tariff plans at a “Make America Healthy Again” event, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in the White House Rose Garden. Official White House Photo by Abe McNatt/Wikimedia Commons

This article was updated on April 9, 2025.

Asia Media Centre