Interia cooperates with leading editors in the world. In our weekly, Friday series "The Closer World" we print the most interesting texts of the most crucial abroad newspapers. The British “The Economist”, from which the following article originates, has been appearing continuously since 1843 and is 1 of the world's most popular magazines on political and business topics. He has 1 of the most influential press titles in the world. From the very beginning, the weekly has consistently adhered to the liberal course.
Editorial Note: The first text "The Economist" was released on April 5. 4 days later, Donald Trump suspended duties for 90 days for all countries outside China. The article comments on earlier decisions and how to make them.
Announced by Donald Trump 2 April fresh customs duties caused an avalanche of ridicule, the reason for which was poor calculations. Any deficit in trade bilaterally, it was treated as a gross injustice and the amount of duties was established by taking part as a measurement of imported goods from a given country and halving this figure.
There are also quirks starting with the fact that customs duties were to be imposed on places with a name net domain, after being determined on the basis of data from only 1 year. However, the most clear evidence of the absurdity of fresh charges is the deficiency of logic and consequences. Here's ours. List of the 5 most insane American customs.
USA. The absurdity of Donald Trump's customs policy
Before 2 April Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (located in the Atlantic Ocean, the overseas community of France, comprising an archipelago of the same name – ed.) was most likely associated mainly as a relic of French presence in North America. He now has the dubious honor of being the recipient of the highest duties declared by Trump in "Liberation Day‘. As with Lesotho they are 50 %.
(For further decisions by Donald Trump on customs, read besides on the website Interia Business)
That's more than twice the rate applied to European Union and 5 times more than this, chosen for certain another overseas territories France. In July – the only period in the last 2 years, erstwhile the islands in general traded with America – they exported goods to it with a full value of $3.4 million (more than PLN 13 million – ed.), importing almost nothing. Looking back, it was a bad move.
Customs changes have besides affected Switzerland. However, there are indications that to compare imports and exports Trump administration utilized data from only 1 year (2024). At the end of the year, Switzerland exported to America more than usual quantity goldincreasing trade surplus (when export value is higher than imports – ed.). In this way she earned a work of 32 percent for all goods. If data from 2022 were used, this "reciprocal" rate would be 19%.
Who was affected by Trump's customs? Experts point to 1 detail
One of the reasons for customs obsession Trump is the desire to increase domestic production. Botswana It has to face 38 percent today. Duty, due to the fact that it has a trade surplus with America – which mostly reflects its exports diamonds. In America, diamond deposits are rare, so no commercial ones presently operate there mine. Similarly, patients with vanillawhich is not grown in Trump's homeland. This in turn is 1 of the main export goods Madagascarthat has been loaded tariff 47 percent
People in any areas accept specified news better than others (or simply ignore it). It's about Heard Islands and McDonald's10 % of the fee imposed. 4 species live on this Australian territory penguins and 29 mammalian species – but no humans. A tiny amount of trade with America appears to be so administrative error.
The fact that these islands are listed The White House as a separate entity, alternatively of receiving the same work as Australia – may consequence from having a name net domain (.hm.) According to any speculations, American tariff table corresponds top-level web domains (a web domain above which there are no another domains in DNS – ed.) alternatively than real countries.
Russia, Belarus and North Korea without duties. The White home explains
At the same time, respective fortunate people managed to leave the customs canonade unharmed. Belarus, Cuba, North Korea and Russia They weren't on Trump's blacklist. As the White home says, sanctions prevent ‘significant trade’ from the latter.
However, in 2024 they did not halt Moscow before export to America goods worth a full of $3 billion (nearly PLN 12 billion – ed.) – is reported by the U.S. Trade typical Office. That's about six times more than exports. Botswana.
Last year Russia it besides had a trade surplus with America of – not a bagatela – $2.5 billion (nearly PLN 10 billion – ed.). If we applied this mechanics to it, Vladimir Putin It would gotta face around 40% of the tariff today.
Text translated from The Economist © The Economist paper Limited, London, 2025
== sync, corrected by elderman ==
The title, midtitle, lead and abbreviations come from the editorial
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