The White House on Thursday released a revised list of import tariffs under President Donald Trump’s trade policy, announcing an increase in tariffs on goods from Afghanistan from 10 percent to 15 percent.
The new tariff structure was published just hours before the 1 August deadline for trade negotiations and agreements with foreign governments.
Under the updated policy, countries with a trade deficit with the United States, including Afghanistan, will now face a base tariff rate of 15 percent. The previous 10 percent rate will remain in place only for countries that maintain a trade surplus with the US
In 2024, the total value of US-Afghanistan goods trade is estimated at $34 million. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, US exports to Afghanistan fell sharply in 2024, totalling $11.4 million, a 76.9 percent decline from $38.2 million, compared to 2023.
Meanwhile, US imports from Afghanistan rose to $22.6 million in 2024, an increase of 13.2 percent from the previous year.
This shift led to a reversal in the trade balance between the two countries, moving from a $29.7 million US surplus in 2023 to an $11.1 million deficit in 2024.
