In 2025, the U.S. put some of its highest tariffs ever on major partners like India and Brazil. Both countries were hit with a huge 50% tax on some imports. India got these tariffs because of trade tensions and for buying oil from Russia.
At the same time, other key countries such as China, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, and South Africa also faced heavy tariffs. However, a U.S. federal appeals court ruled that most of Trump’s tariffs were illegal, going beyond presidential authority under the IEEPA law.
Key Takeaways
- India and Brazil faced the highest tariff rate at 50%, which disrupted billions in exports and strained ties with Washington.
- Other countries, including China, Canada, Mexico, and Switzerland, also faced steep tariffs, making them among the hardest hit trade partners.
- A U.S. court has recently declared many of these tariffs illegal, raising uncertainty over whether future administrations can continue such aggressive trade policies.
Trump’s Reciprocal Tariff Rates and Affected Imports
The table below shows the selected countries facing the highest U.S. tariffs and the impact on their imports. The data is sourced from the Tax Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Tariff Rate | Imports Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇮🇳 India | 50% | $53.75 billion |
| 2 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 50% | $7.90 billion |
| 3 | 🇸🇾 Syria | 41% | $0.01 billion |
| 4 | 🇱🇦 Laos | 40% | $0.73 billion |
| 5 | 🇲🇲 Myanmar | 40% | $0.65 billion |
| 6 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 39% | $37.29 billion |
| 7 | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 35% | $0.17 billion |
| 8 | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 35% | $0.49 billion |
| 9 | 🇨🇦 Canada | 35% | $256.10 billion |
| 10 | 🇨🇳 China | 30% | $264.00 billion |
| 11 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 25% | $255.20 billion |
| 12 | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 30% | $0.36 billion |
| 13 | 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 30% | $0.16 billion |
| 14 | 🇱🇾 Libya | 30% | $0.06 billion |
| 15 | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 30% | $6.48 billion |
🇮🇳 India
India, the world’s fifth-largest economy, found itself facing the highest possible tariff rate from the United States. The U.S. first imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff, then bumped it to a staggering 50% in August, targeting India’s ties with Russia. It’s estimated that as much as 66% of India’s exports to the U.S. are affected, with key sectors like apparel, furniture, gems, and seafood put at risk.
According to Reuters, the tariff particularly strained sectors like Indian steelmakers and small exporters, who found their products too expensive to compete in the U.S. market.
In the year ending March 2025, India exported goods worth about $434 billion in total, with nearly 20%—around $86.5 billion—going to the U.S. These tariffs have taken a heavy toll: affecting nearly $87 billion worth of goods and putting millions of jobs at risk.
Still, India’s robust GDP growth approximately 7% suggests resilience, though economists warn the tariffs could shave 0.6 to 0.8 percentage points off economic growth .
🇧🇷 Brazil
Brazil also faced the 50% tariff, making it one of the hardest-hit nations in Latin America. Tariffs on Brazil rose from an initial 10% in April to 50% in August. With $7.9 billion worth of imports affected, Brazil’s agriculture exports—particularly soybeans, beef, and sugar—became far less competitive in the American market.
Key export sectors like beef and coffee are already seeing price hikes in the U.S. market, and Brazil’s government is considering legal action, including filing a WTO complaint .
According to Bloomberg, Brazilian farmers and exporters complained that this move not only cut their access to the U.S. market but also forced them to rely more heavily on China to sell their goods. For the U.S., this tariff also had a side effect: American consumers faced higher prices for agricultural products that were previously affordable.
Other Major Trade Partners Affected
India and Brazil weren’t alone. Some of America’s closest allies and biggest trading partners were also hit with tariffs:
🇨🇳 China: With $264 billion worth of imports affected and a 30% tariff rate, China was by far the largest economy affected in dollar terms. These tariffs accelerated the ongoing U.S.–China trade war.
🇨🇦 Canada: Even though Canada is a close North American ally, the U.S. put 35% tariffs on $256 billion of its exports, causing one of the biggest trade disruptions.
🇲🇽 Mexico: Another NAFTA partner, Mexico faced 25% tariffs on $255 billion of exports, hitting key industries like cars and manufacturing.
🇨🇭 Switzerland: About $37 billion worth of Swiss goods were affected by tariffs, creating big problems for its pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
According to the BBC, these tariffs not only caused higher prices but also created global uncertainty, as companies started to shift supply chains away from the U.S. (BBC – link).
Trump’s Tariffs Declared Illegal by U.S. Court
In August 2025, a U.S. federal court ruled that many of Trump’s global tariffs were illegal. The decision stated that the administration overstepped its authority when it unilaterally imposed broad tariffs on hundreds of billions worth of imports. This ruling overturned many “reciprocal” tariffs and “liberation day” tariffs, though tariffs under Section 232 (like on steel, copper, aluminum) remain intact.
Conclusion
The U.S. put tariffs on countries like India, Brazil, China, and Canada, and this showed how trade wars affect the whole world. These tariffs were meant to protect American jobs and businesses, but they often had the opposite effect. Prices went up for U.S. consumers, and the US trading relations relations with friendly countries got worse. As a result a U.S. court ruling many of these tariffs illegal, the future of American trade policy is up in the air.
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