UN trade agency urges US to exempt poorest nations from reciprocal tariffs

In a new report released on April 14, the UN Trade and Development agency (UNCTAD) has called on the US to exempt the world's poorest and smallest nations from reciprocal tariffs, warning that such measures could devastate vulnerable economies while only offering minimal revenue for Washington.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced sweeping tariffs on 57 trading partners — ranging from 11 percent on imports from Cameroon to as high as 50 percent on those from Lesotho. However, implementation was paused for 90 days for all countries except China. During this pause, a universal 10 percent tariff has been applied to nearly all countries.

In the report, UNCTAD noted that 28 of the 57 targeted nations would face steep levies despite each accounting for less than 0.1 percent of the US trade deficit. These include Laos, which is subject to a 48 percent tariff; Myanmar, facing a 45 percent levy; and Mauritius, with a 40 percent duty.

For 36 of the 57 trading partners listed, the projected tariffs would generate less than 1 percent of current US tariff revenues, UNCTAD found.

"Any trade concessions they grant would mean little to the US, while potentially reducing their own revenue collection," the agency stated.