Trump Says He Will Impose Tariffs of More Than 10 Percent on Smaller Nations

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the tariffs would target smaller nations such as those in Africa and the Caribbean.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after stepping off Air Force One upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on July 15, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump said on July 15 that he intends to impose tariff rates of more than 10 percent on imports from “smaller nations.”

Trump told reporters that his administration will release a letter soon, notifying those countries of the tariff rates they will be subject to when exporting goods to the United States.

“We'll be releasing a letter soon talking about many countries that are much smaller,” he said after arriving from Pittsburgh. “We’ll probably set one tariff for all of them.”

When asked about the specific rates, Trump replied that it would probably be “a little over 10 percent.”

While Trump did not name specific countries, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified that the tariffs would apply to smaller nations such as those in Africa and the Caribbean.

Trump said the tariff rates were determined based on the trade deficits those countries have with the United States and other factors.

According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the United States recorded a $7.4 billion goods trade deficit with Africa in 2024, with total goods trade with the continent reaching an estimated $71.6 billion in the same year.

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean stated in its recent report that the U.S. trade deficit with the region reached $125 billion in 2023, with total goods trade exceeding $1 trillion that year.

Trump told reporters that the U.S. government has secured a “terrific deal” with Indonesia that will grant the United States full access to the Indonesian market.

Trump announced on Truth Social earlier in the day that Indonesian goods would be subject to a 19 percent tariff, while U.S. exports to Indonesia will face no tariffs or trade barriers. He also said that Indonesia has committed to buying $15 billion in U.S. energy, $4.5 billion in agricultural goods, and 50 Boeing jets.

“We weren’t allowed to go in and trade. I think something similar will happen with, I would say India, and we have a couple of others,” he told reporters, suggesting that India may be willing to allow U.S. access to its market.

The Trump administration sent out a batch of letters to more than 20 U.S. trade partners last week, including Japan, South Korea, and Canada, outlining the tariff rates that are expected to take effect on Aug. 1.

Trump also told reporters on July 15 that he will probably set tariffs on pharmaceutical products imported to the United States “at the end of the month.”

He said the government will start with “a low tariff” to give pharmaceutical companies at least a year to shift manufacturing to the United States before implementing a higher tariff, which Trump said could be as high as 200 percent.

Andrew Moran contributed to this report.