Since US President Donald Trump arrived at the White House last January has taken strong economic measures whose declared goal is to protect the American industry by imposing a series of new taxes and customs definitions on imports to the American market from different countries of the world, including the countries allied to the United States.
The global trade war that Trump sparked no sign of decline, as the customs duties of mutual caused major economies, caused the collapse of stock markets and reduced the prospects for growth.
This war increased on April 2, which Trump called “Tahrir’s Day”, as it announced a set of mutual tariffs targeting almost all countries that the United States deals with, which constitutes a severe blow to free trade and globalization.
What is the effect of Trump’s decision on Arab countries?
The trade war is likely to negatively affect the economic growth of Arab countries, which is the pillar of the region’s economy. There are also immediate costs for countries whose currencies are related to dollars.
However, before entering the details of the answer to this question, we have to know the size of Arab -American trade.
The total American commodity trade with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) was estimated at $ 141.7 billion in 2024, according to the USTR commercial representative office (USTR).
US commodities exports to the region in 2024 amounted to $ 80.4 billion, an increase of 5.8% over 2023.
The total imports of US commodities from the region reached 61.3 billion dollars in 2024, a decrease of 1.6% from 2023.
The surplus of the American commodity trade with the countries of the region reached $ 19.1 billion in 2024, an increase of 39.8% over 2023, according to the previous source.
The United States of America has close commercial relations with a large number of Arab countries. Below is a brief view of the size of this trade in 2024 with the 10 most prominent Arab countries according to the USA’s commercial representative office (USTR).
1- Emirates
It is the largest trade partner for the United States in the region. The total American commodity trade with the UAE was estimated at 34.4 billion dollars in 2024, distributed on US commodity exports worth 27 billion dollars, an increase of 8.5% over 2023. While American imports accounted for $ 7.4 billion, an increase of 12.9% over 2023.
The surplus of the American commodity trade with the UAE was 19.6 billion US dollars in 2024, an increase of 6.9% over 2023.
2- Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the second largest commercial partner for the United States in the Arab region after the UAE. The total US commodity trade with Saudi Arabia reached about $ 25.9 billion in 2024.
Where the exports of US goods to Saudi Arabia in 2024 amounted to $ 13.2 billion, a decrease of 4.8% from 2023.
And America’s total imports from Saudi Arabia reached $ 12.7 billion in 2024, a decrease of 19.9% from 2023.
The surplus of the American commodity trade with Saudi Arabia reached about $ 500 million in 2024, an increase of 121.6% over 2023.
3- Egypt
The total American commodity trade with Egypt reached an estimated $ 8.6 billion in 2024.
Where the exports of American goods to Egypt in 2024 amounted to $ 6.1 billion, an increase of 36% over 2023.
The total imports of US commodities from Egypt reached $ 2.5 billion in 2024, an increase of 6.7% over 2023.
The surplus of the American commodity trade with Egypt was $ 3.6 billion in 2024, an increase of 69.4% over 2023.
4- Morocco
The total American commodity trade with Morocco reached $ 7.2 billion in 2024.
US commodity exports to Morocco in 2024 amounted to $ 5.3 billion, an increase of 37.3% over 2023.
The total imports of US commodities from Morocco reached $ 1.9 billion in 2024, an increase of 12.3% over 2023.
The surplus of the American commodity trade with Morocco was $ 3.4 billion in 2024, an increase of 57.1% over 2023.
5- Qatar
The total American commodity trade with Qatar reached about $ 5.6 billion in 2024.
US commodity exports to Qatar in 2024 amounted to $ 3.8 billion, a decrease of 18.3% from 2023.
The total imports of US commodities from Qatar amounted to $ 1.8 billion in 2024, a decrease of 10.3% from 2023.
The US commodity trade surplus with Qatar was $ 2 billion in 2024, a decrease of 24.5% from 2023.
6- Jordan
The total American commodity trade with Jordan reached about $ 5.4 billion in 2024.
US commodity exports to Jordan in 2024 billion dollars, an increase of 30.9% over 2023.
The total imports of US commodities from Jordan amounted to $ 3.4 billion in 2024, an increase of 15.4% over 2023.
The US commodity trade deficit with Jordan was $ 1.4 billion in 2024, a decrease of 2.3% from 2023.
Jordan is one of the few Arab countries that exports to the United States more than it imports.
7- Kuwait
The total American commodity trade with Kuwait amounted to about $ 4.1 billion in 2024.
US commodities exports to Kuwait in 2024 amounted to $ 2.4 billion, a decrease of 14.7% from 2023.
The total imports of US commodities from Kuwait amounted to $ 1.6 billion in 2024, a decrease of 2.4% from 2023.
The surplus of the American commodity trade with Kuwait amounted to $ 768.2 million in 2024, a decrease of 32.9% from 2023.
8- Algeria
The total American commodity trade with Algeria amounted to $ 3.5 billion in 2024.
US commodities exports to Algeria in 2024 billion dollars, a decrease of 15.5% from 2023.
The total imports of American commodities from Algeria amounted to $ 2.5 billion in 2024, a decrease of 18.7% from 2023.
The US commodity trade deficit with Algeria was $ 1.5 billion in 2024, a decrease of 20.9% from 2023.
Algeria is one of the few Arab countries that export to the United States more than it imports.
9- The Sultanate of Oman
The total American commodity trade with Oman reached about $ 3.3 billion in 2024.
US commodities exports to Oman in 2024 billion dollars, an increase of 5.1% over 2023.
The total imports of US commodities from Oman amounted to $ 1.3 billion in 2024, a decrease of 20.2% from 2023.
The surplus of the American commodity trade with Oman reached 634.3 million dollars in 2024, an increase of 210.1% over 2023.
10- Bahrain
The total American commodity trade with Bahrain reached an estimated $ 2.9 billion in 2024.
US commodity exports to Bahrain in 2024 amounted to $ 1.6 billion, a decrease of 1.8% from 2023.
The total imports of US commodities from Bahrain amounted to $ 1.2 billion in 2024, an increase of 3.3% over 2023.
The surplus of the American commodity trade with Bahrain reached 441.9 million dollars in 2024, a decrease of 13.3% from 2023.
The trace of Trump’s trade war in the Arab world
The trade war is likely to negatively affect economic growth, which is the pillar of the region’s economy, especially the exports of these countries to the United States. Trump announced new customs duties on “Tahrir’s Day” that includes most of the world, and the following is a list of new customs duties imposed on Arab countries:
1- Syria: 41%
2- Iraq: 39%
3- Libya: 31%
4- Algeria: 30%
5- Tunisia: 28%
6- Jordan: 20%
7- Egypt: 10%
8- Arab Gulf states: 10%
9- Morocco: 10%
10- Lebanon: 10%
11- Sudan: 10%
12- Yemen: 10%
13- Djibouti: 10%
