New US Tariffs 2025: Winners, Risks, and MENA/Asia Effects

Expert Analysis: The Impact of New US Tariffs on Global Markets

The American program of tariffs has already shaken the global community, and the recent adjustments make this prediction not far from the truth — more changes are yet to come. This series of import taxes threatens a wide range of products and markets, and the fluctuations associated with their impact are quite severe — several companies that introduce foreign products into the domestic market have already increased the cost of their services, since their taxes to the U.S. government have increased. The new U.S. tariffs may be another instrument of pressure for Donald Trump and his office to trigger beneficial deals for the country.

Overview of the New US Tariffs

These changes have hit dozens of countries. The minimal share of US imports doesn’t matter — most of the tariffs are based on the geopolitical stance of America and how the affected country’s position across markets. Let’s walk you through some of the most notable cases amid over :

50% — Brazil and India.
41% — Syria.
40% — Myanmar and Laos.
39% — Switzerland.
35% — Serbia, Iraq, and Canada.
30% — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Libya, Algeria, South Africa, and China.
25% — Moldova, Brunei, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, and Mexico.
20% — Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
19% — Pakistan, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
18% — Nicaragua.
15% — Vanuatu, Nauru, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Zimbabwe, Chad, etc.
10% — Comoros, Gambia, Dominica, Palau, Solomon Islands, North Korea, etc.

While there are certain exceptions, these tariffs typically influence all products. They have already taken effect, with little to no time for affected regions to adjust their strategy if needed or desired. Many official meetings are expected to be scheduled to regulate the target country’s exposure to the U.S. tariffs — the European Union, South Korea, the UK, and other countries have already reached certain agreements with America.

Impact on the MENA Region

In the pre-tariff era, the trade ecosystem in the region was as follows (as of ):

The import of goods to the U.S. from the region was around $61.3 billion.
The export of American goods to MENA was over $80 billion, which surpassed the same parameter in 2023 by almost 6%.

With the arrival of tariffs, several countries in the region are exposed to the baseline levy of 10%. These changes target the trade of goods, including metals and textiles.

In the long run, they can spiral to the reduced dependency of these regions on U.S. markets. So far, oil-exporting nations have been among the few to utilize the strategic edge of the new U.S. tariffs, pivoting their services to alternative markets while maintaining a solid revenue flow. Supply chains may be further adapted, with potential innovations for multiple sectors to mitigate the negative impact of tariff exposure.

Consequences for Singapore and Hong Kong

Here is a breakdown of how the new U.S. tariffs have changed the trade in the region. Onwards!

Singapore

Without any further ado, now is the time to see the impact of the latest U.S. tariffs on the region:

Immediate risks — rising input costs and supply delays.
Medium-term challenges — the loss of market share, along with fragmented supply chains.
Strategic Responses — investment in digital compliance tools, as well as government guidance through task forces.
Key sectors affected — electronics, advanced manufacturing, and logistics.

Hong Kong

It’s another case with a more intense influence of the recent change of the American trade-related policy on the target region:

Immediate risks — margin pressure and shrinking orders.
Medium-term challenges — export competitiveness and rising operational costs.
Strategic responses — several government-supported schemes, including the BUD Fund, EMF, TVP, Cyberport/HKSTP, RFS/RTTP, etc,. while maintaining the free port status.
Key sectors affected — electronics, plastics, and industrial goods.

Instead of relocating their business activities overseas, local markets focus on taking the efficiency and reach of their operations to the next level. Another challenge to cope with is the regulatory complexity of these relations, given the elevated need for compliance expertise and tailored digital tools for well-thought-out resistance against new tariffs and proper operations with updated customs procedures in mind.

Business Opportunities Arising from the Tariffs

One thing is for sure: these updates don’t stop trade once and for all, but rather redirect the performance flows for involved parties. While affected countries can utilize this shift as an opportunity for partnership diversification and increased exposure to more markets, America can claim extra gains in compliance technology, energy exports, and domestic goods manufacturing (at the cost of higher prices for end users, however).

Here are breakdowns by country. Keep on reading for a deeper insight into the topic!

United States

Ideally, as the initiator of the program, it should benefit the most from its implementation:

Key opportunities — reshoring, domestic substitution, LNG exports, and compliance tech.
Benefiting sectors — manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and logistics software.
Long-term strategic impact — a stronger industrial base with dominance in the energy sector

India

Despite its intense exposure to tariffs from the USA, this market can still thrive:

Key opportunities — the goal is to diversify exports, attract EU/ASEAN buyers, and strengthen the refining sector.
Benefiting sectors — IT services, refining, and manufacturing.
Long-term strategic impact — moving toward supply-chain independence.

MENA

Here is how things work in this case:

Key opportunities — new Asian/EU partnerships, boost local production, logistics hubs.
Benefiting sectors — petrochemicals, shipping, ports, and consumer goods.
Long-term strategic impact — shift from U.S. reliance to multipolar trade.

Asia (ASEAN, China)

Now is the time for brief notes about how tariffs may be for the better in the region:

Key opportunities — capturing trade diversion, serving as re-export centers.
Benefiting sectors — electronics, logistics, and financial services.
Long-term strategic impact — consolidation of Asia as a tariff-resistant trade hub.

Unique partnerships with non-U.S. powers to resist new tariffs and diversify their supply channels have already emerged — the cooperation of Japan, South Korea, and China may become a classic example in this regard.

Additional Tariffs on India Linked to Russian Oil

Recently, Donald Trump announced his directive to impose an extra on commodities from India as a form of punishment for the country’s Russian oil purchases. With this increase, India has joined the list of the most affected countries with the highest exposure to the new U.S. tariffs — the level will rise to 50% (effective from August 27, 2025). Amid the chaos, act cautiously and have yet to complete their September order for the Kremlin’s crude oil.

Here are the details about the expected impact of this policy on India’s economic and geopolitical stance:

Trade volumes — decline in affected Indian exports to the U.S. An additional 25% tariff increases costs, reducing competitiveness and potentially rerouting exports to other markets
Energy supply — Pressure on India to diversify away from Russian oil. Limited options exist, but domestic political considerations and long-term Russia ties may limit the rapid shift
U.S. importers — Increased costs and margin compression. Companies dependent on Indian goods may pass higher prices to consumers or seek alternate suppliers.
Geopolitics — Heightened U.S.-India tension. Tariff action strains diplomatic relations and complicates strategic alignment amid the broader sanctions regimen.
Global energy markets — minor rebalancing effects. Reduced Russian oil imports to India could shift flows to China or other buyers, affecting crude pricing slightly.
Investment climate — uncertainty for multinationals. The policy’s unpredictability may deter new investments or expansion plans linked to India.

Strategic Takeaways and Market Outlook

Here is what you need to bear in mind:

U.S. domestic market — with the increase in prices for goods, the new U.S. tariffs can potentially slow consumer spending.
China & linked economies — huge tariffs on imports from these markets have a crucial impact on the supply chain management in the region and the geopolitical standing of the involved parties. As of now, it’s not clear whether the changes in global diplomatic relationships and alliances are irreversible. Just remember the joint response of China, Japan, and South Korea to the American tariffs (despite all their past conflicts and current disputes).
Market volatility — while short-term arbitrage opportunities may arise, global uncertainty that is directly linked to the American tariffs may have a heavy impact on market sentiment, reducing or hedging investment opportunities for affected sectors and countries.

At the end of the day, U.S. tariffs have become a global shockwave on multiple economies and markets. While they are desired to accelerate the levels of domestic manufacturing instead of outsourcing, they have drastically contributed to the levels of global uncertainty. This trade policy is extremely aggressive, and more changes may arise in the near future, affecting more countries for several reasons. Whether these chaotic fluctuations will “Make America Great Again” is under debate.

FAQs

Which goods and industries are most affected by the new US tariffs?

They have an impact on a variety of markets, particularly those that rely substantially on imports from the target nations. One of the key examples is the goods sector, especially when it comes to industrial and machinery elements.

What indicators should analysts track to gauge the tariffs’ market impact?

The list of analytical stats to consider would be lacking without FX fluctuations, commodity prices, the volumes of import and export, as well as corporate earnings. This way, it will be easier to track the short-term impact and predict the long-term influence of tariffs on the domestic and global economy.

Which companies or sectors could benefit from the new tariff landscape?

A lot depends on the target company’s management tactics. As a rule, alternative regional suppliers of affected goods and domestic manufacturers can leverage the new U.S. tariffs.

Are these tariffs likely to trigger broader trade disputes or negotiations?

Absolutely! To be more exact, they have already triggered major responses from affected countries — more is yet to come.

What are the long-term ramifications for Asian and Middle Eastern supply chains?

The investment environment in these regions is expected to shift, with a focus on nearshoring and reshoring strategies that prioritize source channel diversification.