
U.S. to Slap 10%+ Tariffs on Imports From 100 Countries, With Africa on the List
By Mintesinot Nigussie
Published on 07/16/25
The United States will impose a uniform import tariff of slightly over 10% on goods from more than 100 countries, according to AP News. The measure is expected to take effect August 1 and is part of a wider policy shift aimed at reshaping America’s trade and foreign aid strategy.
President Donald Trump announced the decision Tuesday, describing it as a “single-rate” duty that will apply across a broad list of nations. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed the targeted countries are largely in Africa and the Caribbean, regions that maintain modest trade volumes with the U.S.
“This will be a single rate for all of them, a little over 10%,” Trump said, adding that the policy is designed to simplify the import tax system and incentivize domestic production.
The move follows a 90-day negotiating window that expired July 9, which had been granted after Trump’s initial tariff announcement in April caused market turbulence. Countries that failed to reach new terms during that window are now subject to the default rate.
The administration also plans to expand the tariff approach to other sectors. Trump said similar duties on pharmaceutical imports would likely be announced by the end of the month, with computer chips to follow. A one-year grace period will be granted in those sectors to allow firms time to transition manufacturing back to the U.S.
The announcement comes shortly after Trump hosted five West African leaders at the White House for talks centered on trade and investment, a gesture now seen as part of a broader recalibration of U.S. relations with developing economies.