When it comes to global trade, Donald Trump didn't just walk into the room; he kicked the door down. Honestly, if you were trying to keep track of every country that ended up in the crosshairs of a U.S. trade representative between 2017 and 2026, you'd need a very large wall and a lot of red string. We aren't just talking about a little tax on toys. We're talking about a massive shift in how the U.S. does business with the rest of the planet.
Basically, the "America First" strategy turned the traditional trade world upside down. Whether it was the early skirmishes over washing machines or the high-stakes "reciprocal" tariffs of 2025, the map of global commerce has been redrawn. You've probably heard about the China trade war, but did you know Switzerland, Vietnam, and even Rwanda ended up on the list for various reasons? It’s a bit of a maze, but here’s the breakdown of which countries did Trump put tariffs on and why the impact is still being felt today in 2026.
The Big Three: China, Canada, and Mexico
China is the obvious starting point. It wasn't just a tariff; it was a full-blown economic standoff. It started with Section 301 investigations into "unfair trade practices" and intellectual property theft. By 2019, hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods were under duty. Fast forward to the second term, and the numbers got even wilder. In April 2025, a new 34% tariff was slapped on Chinese imports, which eventually spiraled into a two-way escalation where rates hit north of 100% before some cooling off occurred.
Then you have our neighbors. Most people assumed the USMCA (the "New NAFTA") would keep things peaceful. Nope. Trump used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to target Canada and Mexico, primarily citing the fentanyl crisis and border security. At one point, Canada faced a 25% tariff on most goods, while Mexico was threatened with similar levels. It’s a weird vibe when your closest trading partners are also your biggest tariff targets.
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The "Reciprocal" Hit List
This is where things got really technical. In 2025, the administration pushed for "Reciprocal Tariffs." The logic was simple: if you tax us, we tax you. If a country had a higher tariff on U.S. exports than the U.S. had on theirs, the administration adjusted the rate to match.
This created a massive list of countries that suddenly found their goods much more expensive to ship to America:
- Vietnam: One of the hardest hit with a 46% reciprocal rate, largely because they became a massive manufacturing hub for companies trying to dodge the China tariffs.
- Thailand: Faced a 36% levy.
- India: A 26% rate that later spiked to 50% in August 2025 after disputes over Russian oil imports.
- South Korea: Hit with 25%.
- Taiwan: 32%, particularly affecting the electronics and semiconductor sectors.
- European Union: A broad 20% tariff was applied, though later negotiated down to 15%.
It wasn't just the big players, either. Smaller economies like Cambodia (49%), Laos (48%), and Bangladesh (37%) were caught in the net. The goal was to force these nations to lower their own trade barriers, but in the short term, it mostly just made shopping at big-box retailers in the U.S. a lot pricier.
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National Security and the Metals War
Remember the "Section 232" tariffs? Those were the ones justified by national security. The idea was that the U.S. needed its own steel and aluminum industries to survive a war, so foreign metals had to be taxed to protect domestic mills.
This hit almost everyone. Japan, the UK, and even the EU were initially included. Eventually, many of these countries negotiated "quotas"—basically a limit on how much they could send without getting taxed—but the threat never really went away. In 2025, this expanded to include copper, with a 50% tariff that sent global copper prices into the stratosphere.
Why semiconductors are the new frontline
In January 2026, the administration took this a step further. Citing national security again, a 25% tariff was placed on high-end semiconductors. This specifically targeted AI chips, including those from Nvidia manufactured in Taiwan. The White House argued that relying on foreign supply chains for the "brains" of modern technology was too risky.
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The Surprising Casualties
You might not expect to see Switzerland on a trade hit list, but they were hit with a 31% reciprocal tariff. Why? Because their own import duties were deemed too high compared to the U.S.
Brazil also faced a unique set of tariffs. These weren't just about trade balances; they were "Non-Reciprocal IEEPA" tariffs. The U.S. imposed them in relation to legal issues involving a former Brazilian president and concerns over content moderation on social media platforms. It shows how tariffs became a tool for diplomacy—or "economic statecraft," if you want to be fancy—rather than just a way to collect tax.
What This Means for You Right Now
If you're looking at the price of a new car or a kitchen remodel in 2026, you're seeing these tariffs in action. Steel, aluminum, and even the "fentanyl" tariffs on Mexican auto parts add up. Here is the reality of which countries did Trump put tariffs on: it wasn't just a list of enemies. It was a broad-spectrum approach that included allies, neighbors, and global superpowers alike.
The Supreme Court is currently weighing in on whether the President actually has the authority to use the IEEPA for these broad tariffs. If they rule against it, we might see a wave of refunds. But for now, the "Tariff Wall" is very much standing.
Actionable Steps for Businesses and Consumers:
- Check the "Origin" Label: If you are importing goods, verify the "Country of Origin" immediately. Sourcing from a country like Vietnam right now might be more expensive than sourcing from a country with a negotiated exemption.
- Monitor the Supreme Court: The IEEPA ruling (expected early 2026) will determine if you are eligible for tariff refunds. Keep your documentation for all duties paid since 2025.
- Automate Compliance: Use trade compliance software. The rates are changing so fast—like the Italian pasta duties dropping from 92% to 2% in a single month—that manual tracking is basically impossible.
- Hedge Your Currency: Tariffs often cause the U.S. Dollar to fluctuate against the Euro and Yuan. If you have long-term contracts, talk to a financial advisor about hedging your currency risk.
The trade landscape isn't going back to the way it was in the 90s. The "zero-tariff" era is largely over, replaced by a world where trade is used as both a carrot and a stick. Knowing who is on the list is the first step in surviving the shift.