What are the ‘Dirty 15’ countries that will be most affected by Trump’s tariffs? – Washington Examiner
The article discusses President Donald Trump’s plans to implement significant tariffs, which he has referred to as “Liberation Day,” aimed at reducing U.S.dependence on foreign imports. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has mentioned that the administration is focusing on a group of countries, termed the “Dirty 15,” which will experience the highest tariffs, though specific countries were not disclosed. national economic Council Director Kevin Hassett noted that these tariffs are targeted at countries contributing to the U.S.’s substantial trade deficit, which totals around a trillion dollars. The countries likely affected include major economies such as China, the european Union, Mexico, adn several others.
As the administration prepares for this tariff announcement, it is indeed also engaging in discussions with countries to negotiate tariff levels based on factors like non-tariff barriers and currency manipulation. The President insisted that tariffs would not be limited to a select few nations but would start with all, creating variations depending on the country and industry. The White House has yet to clarify which countries will be impacted as the announcement approaches.
What are the ‘Dirty 15’ countries that will be most affected by Trump’s tariffs?
President Donald Trump is planning to reveal his most sweeping tariffs on Wednesday, a move he called “Liberation Day” because the tariffs’ goal is to free the United States from reliance on foreign imports.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent singled out what he called the “Dirty 15” countries that will face the steepest tariffs in an interview last month on Fox Business. However, he did not name the countries the administration had in mind.
In another interview on Fox Business, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said the administration is looking at 10 to 15 countries that account for the U.S.’s “entire trillion-dollar trade deficit.”
According to data from the Commerce Department, in 2024, the U.S. had the highest goods trading deficit with the following countries:
- China
- European Union
- Mexico
- Vietnam
- Ireland
- Germany
- Taiwan
- Japan
- South Korea
- Canada
- India
- Thailand
- Italy
- Switzerland
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- France
- Austria
- Sweden
The list also includes many of the countries in the Group of Twenty and other “economies that have the largest trade deficits in goods with the United States,” according to the data sheet.
Those countries include:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- the European Union
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- the United Kingdom
- Vietnam
Vietnam is planning to send its deputy prime minister, Ho Duc Phoc, and executives from companies to the U.S. this weekend, according to Bloomberg News. The country has already announced a series of measures to boost U.S. imports to reduce its trade surplus with the U.S. as it tries to avoid tariffs from the Trump administration.
However, Trump pushed back on the notion that only some countries will see tariffs.
“You’d start with all countries,” Trump said on Air Force One, adding that there is “not a cutoff.”
While most details are unclear, the tariffs are expected to vary for each country and industry. The Trump administration has said it is considering imposing restrictions on the trade of various products, including pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.
Bessent revealed earlier this month that the Trump administration considered several factors to determine which countries to target and the severity of the tariffs.
“On April 2, each country will receive a number that we believe represents their tariffs,” Bessent told Fox Business. “For some countries, it could be quite low. For some countries, it could be quite high.”
“We are going to go to them and say, ‘Look, here is where we think the tariff levels are, nontariff barriers, currency manipulation, unfair funding, labor suppression, and if you will stop this, we will not put up the tariff wall,’” he said.
GOP ANXIETIES PEAK AS TRUMP’S ‘LIBERATION DAY’ TARIFFS ARRIVE
In a post on X ahead of his tariff announcement, Trump shared a video touting the “nearly $5 trillion in investment and trade commitments from across the globe” he has “secured” through his protectionist trade policies.
The White House did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment on a clarification of what countries will be affected.
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