39% surcharge for Switzerland, 50% for Brazil … Why are some countries so much punished by Donald Trump?

They did not sign an agreement in time and now they pay the price: Twenty -six countries will receive more than 15% by August 7 and the announcement of a decree signed on Thursday evening by Donald Trump. Some nations were even particularly punished, with 41 % surcharges in Syria. Citing a higher official for US administration, CNN Report that the United States justifies these measures by an excessive trading deficit with these nations. However, motivation, sometimes not very explicit, is not always purely economic.

In Europe, while the European Union signed an agreement last Sunday, which was provided with a 15%surcharge for its products, Serbia received a rate of 35%and Bosnia and Herzegovina by 30%. It is difficult to establish a connection with the more or less expected proximity of the political class of these two countries with Russia. Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, did not refuse sanctions in Moscow. India considers one of the main Russian buyers of ROP “penalty”.

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Switzerland falls from a high

The United States is no less lenient with countries tested near China. In Southeast Asia, Laos (40%) and Burma (40%) include the most affected by the US Decree, while most other nations in the region – South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodge – managed to reduce their level. A sanction, which can also be explained by a remarkable business deficit of the United States with Laos – $ 763 million in 2024 – or Myanmar – 580 million USD.

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It is undoubtedly also geopolitical motivations that justified very high levels caused in the Middle East in Iraq (35%) and Syria (41%). On the other hand, Switzerland falls from high. On the day of its national holiday, the country will inherit a large level of 39%, which is 8 points more than the rate. But they were there “Progress in bilateral discussions”, was surprised in the paper on the X Swiss Federal Council and emphasized the handover “A very constructive position of Switzerland”.

Therefore, the announcement of tens of billions of investment of Swiss giants from the pharmacy Roche and Novartis in the United States is not enough. Donald Trump remains concerned about the business deficit of the United States with Switzerland, which approached EUR 43 billion in 2024. Specializing in very top Switzerland is mainly exported by pharmaceutical products, but also machines, electrical equipment and metals. Without forgetting your watch, unique know-how and highly required across the Atlantic.

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Brazil pays their retaliation against Bolsonaro

South Africa also tried to negotiate to the end and eventually inherit from 30%of the surcharges. Pretoria, however, undertook to buy US gas and invest up to 3.3 billion in the United States. In vain. South African officials say that geopolitics and even internal policy issues purely commercial behavior.

In particular, Donald Trump disagrees with the South African law supporting positive discrimination and incorrectly repeats that South African white farmers are victims and “genocide”. His administration also did not blow out that South Africa would file a complaint against Israel “genocide” Before the International Criminal Court. As for Brazil, he is caused by a 50% surcharge for retaliation for the prosecution initiated in the country against the former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonar, accused of a coup attempt.

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Canada seriously punished

If Mexico, a long endangered 30% surcharge, benefits from the next time to negotiate, the United States was not with the other North American neighbor tender: Canada. Customs obligations related to its products increased from 25% to 35%, which is a tax, which only applies to a minority of products that do not pass within the North American free trade agreement (ACEUM).

“Canada was unable to work together to reduce the flood of fentanyl and other drugs”He entered the United States, regretted the White House in a document that justified this decision. Canada also has “Received measures taken” And he recently expressed his intention to recognize Palestine, the announcement that Donald Trump issued.

Finally in North Africa, Morocco is the only regional survivor because Algeria, Tunisia and Libya are seriously affected, with official rates of 30%, 25%and 30%, for business relations “Unfortunately by far be reciprocal”According to a letter sent by Donald Trump 9 July.