Who Escaped Trump’s Tariff Hammer?

Here Are the Notable Countries Missing from Trump's Tariff List and Why

Canada? Mexico? Russia? President Donald Trump excluded several countries from the tariffs he announced this week.

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US President Donald Trump holds a chart as he delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs during an event in the Rose Garden entitled "Make America Wealthy Again" at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 2, 2025. Trump geared up to unveil sweeping new "Liberation Day" tariffs in a move that threatens to ignite a devastating global trade war. Key US trading partners including the European Union and Britain said they were preparing their responses to Trump's escalation, as nervous markets fell in Europe and America. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI|AFP|Getty Images

US President Donald Trump holds a chart as he delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 2, 2025.

President Donald Trump this week stunned allies and sent shock waves through global markets with his announcement of sweeping tariffs that cover more than 180 countries.

Trump announced a baseline 10% tariff on all imported goods, with a “reciprocal” tariff equal to half of what he says other countries charge the U.S.

The list features a number of close U.S. allies who were disappointed to be included, like the European Union, Japan and South Korea. Some reacted strongly, while others took a more timid approach. But many ultimately were left scratching their heads at what Trump’s ultimate goal is with the tariffs, which could potentially lead to a global trade war that has some economists raising the odds of a recession within the next 12 months.

"In the face of unrelenting economic warfare, the United States can no longer continue with a policy of unilateral economic surrender," Trump said on Wednesday.

Economists have questioned Trump’s formula, while others note that it imposes tariffs on countries with which the U.S. runs a trade surplus.

Notably, several countries are missing from Trump’s list, despite him saying last month that the tariffs would “start with all countries.”

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Here is a look at some of the countries left off Trump’s list:
Canada, Mexico

Canada and Mexico were excluded as they have already been targeted in previous tariffs. Trump later paused tariffs for products covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on free trade.

Mexico’s president seemed to credit the good relationship the country has with Trump for the news.

“The last call I had with President Trump, I said that in the case of reciprocal tariffs, my understanding was that there wouldn’t be tariffs (on Mexico), because since Mexico doesn’t place tariffs on the United States, the United States doesn’t put tariffs on Mexico,” Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday.

Still, other countries that have free-trade agreements with the U.S. were nevertheless targeted by the tariffs Trump announced Wednesday.

Canada, on the other hand, announced a 25% tariff on all vehicles imported from the U.S. that are not compliant with USMCA.

“The system of global trade anchored on the United States that Canada has relied on since the end of the Second World War, a system that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for our country for decades, is over,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday.
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Tim SmartApril 3, 2025
President Donald Trump departs after signing an executive order at an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Russia

The exclusion of one country in particular on Trump’s list raised eyebrows: Russia.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Wednesday that Russia was left off because of sanctions after the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 meant that U.S.-Russian trade had effectively ended.

But that’s not entirely true. While the value of U.S. trade with Russia has fallen to its lowest point in decades, Russia still exported an estimated $3.5 billion worth of goods to the U.S. in 2024, according to U.S. trade data.

Trump recently indicated he is considering additional sanctions and tariffs on Russia.

“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,” Trump posted last month on Truth Social.

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North Korea, Cuba and Belarus

North Korea, Cuba and Belarus were not included because existing tariffs and sanctions on them were already so high.

The three nations, as well as Russia, “are not subject to the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order because they are already facing extremely high tariffs, and our previously imposed sanctions preclude any meaningful trade with these countries,” a White House official told The Hill in a statement.