Trump’s new tariffs include Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey, exclude Russia, Belarus, Cuba, and North Korea

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a move to reshape US trade policy, President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs targeting imports from several countries, including Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Turkey. The announcement, made during a press conference in the White House Rose Garden, is part of a broader economic strategy aimed at reducing the US trade deficit and promoting domestic production. At times, though, the White House has provided various rationale for the tariffs including negotiating leverage and reducing the national debt.

The newly imposed tariffs include a baseline 10% duty on all imports, with significantly higher rates for select countries. Syria faces a significant tariff rate at 41%, followed by Iraq at 39%, while Lebanon and Turkey are subject to the baseline 10%. These measures fall under what Trump has dubbed “Liberation Day,” a plan designed to counter what his administration perceives as unfair trade practices.

Trump defended the tariffs as a necessary step to level the playing field for American businesses. “This is about fairness,” he stated, emphasizing that the tariffs mirror the rates these countries impose on US goods. Despite Trump’s claim, the rates actually reflect .

It has been speculated that the White House used the large-language model (LLM) ChatGPT to determine the tariff rates.

Excluded from the new tariffs were Russia, Belarus, Cuba, and North Korea. A White House official told The Hill in a statement that the four nations “are not subject to the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order because they are already facing extremely high tariffs, and our previously imposed sanctions preclude any meaningful trade with these countries.”

The White House’s rationale raises the question why Syria was not excluded, given the sanctions still imposed on it by the US.

The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters argue the tariffs will bolster American manufacturing and create jobs, while critics warn of potential economic consequences, including higher consumer prices and strained international relations. The affected countries have yet to issue official responses, but analysts predict the move could escalate trade tensions in the region.

Markets plummeted on the news, recording their worst single day loss since the COVID-19 pandemic.