US Imposes Broad Tariffs on Global South, Sparking Trade Strains

U.S. President Donald Trump has implemented sweeping new tariffs on imports from dozens of countries, primarily targeting nations in the Global South such as Brazil, South Africa, Cambodia, and Bangladesh, with rates ranging from 15% up to 50%. These tariffs, which took effect on August 7, 2025, aim to address trade imbalances and extract political concessions, but they risk triggering currency devaluations, debt crises, and economic instability in affected countries. South Africa, facing a potential 30% tariff, has engaged in last-minute negotiations with the U.S. but appears unlikely to secure tariff reductions, despite President Cyril Ramaphosa's discussions with Trump. Other countries are responding variously, with Brazil challenging the tariffs at the WTO and Cambodia adjusting tariffs and increasing purchases from Boeing. The tariffs are part of a broader U.S. strategy that has raised average import tariffs to around 15%, significantly disrupting global trade and eliciting concerns from American companies about rising costs passed on to consumers. Additionally, the U.S. threatens secondary tariffs on nations maintaining trade ties with Russia, complicating global trade relations and negotiations further.