On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced a 10 percent base tariff on all goods imported into the United States, including those from Afghanistan, alongside additional tariffs on major trading partners.
A White House official confirmed the 10 percent tariff would take effect from early morning.
According to the US government’s tariff schedule, American exports to Afghanistan face a 49 precent customs duty. Trade data shows the 2024 US-Afghanistan trade volume reached approximately $34.0 million. US exports to Afghanistan dropped to $11.4 million, a 76.9 precent decline ($38.2 million) from 2023, while imports from Afghanistan rose to $22.6 million, up 13.2 percent ($2.6 million). This shifted the US trade balance with Afghanistan from a $29.7 million surplus in 2023 to an $11.1 million deficit in 2024.
On 2 April, Trump signed an executive order enacting the tariffs, dubbing it “American Economic Independence Day.” He claimed the move would boost domestic production, promising “stronger competition and lower consumer prices.” “Jobs and factories will come roaring back—you’re already seeing it. We’ll supercharge our industrial base, open foreign markets, and dismantle trade barriers,” he stated.
On 13 February 2025, Trump had ordered his economic team to develop a reciprocal tariff plan targeting countries imposing duties on US imports, laying the groundwork for this policy.
