Vyacheslav Ionitsa
Moldova was on the list of those for whom the payments increased very seriously – by 31% cumulatively. With the explanation that our country applies a cumulative duty of 61% against goods from the United States, including “manipulation of the exchange rate and tariff barriers”.
By comparison, goods from Russia and Belarus will not be subject to duties at all. White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said that Russia, Belarus, Cuba and North Korea “already face extremely high tariffs, and our previously imposed sanctions prevent any meaningful trade with these countries.”
For Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, the tariff will be 10%. For EU countries 20%, Japan 24%, and China 34%. For Bosnia and Herzegovina the duties will increase to 35%, for Liechtenstein to 38%, for Lesotho (where the total duty on American goods is 99%) – up to 50%.
The measures will come into effect in stages: the basic tariff of 10% will be applied from April 5, and additional tariffs from April 9.
In 2024, exports of Moldovan goods to the United States increased by 46% (from $62 million to $90 million), which brought this country to the 10th position in the list of the largest importers from Moldova.
Last year, the leader among Moldovan goods exported to the USA was strong alcoholic beverages. The supplies of spare parts for airplanes and helicopters are estimated at $8 million, while tobacco products were exported for $3.5 million.
Five years ago Moldova had virtually no trade with the U.S.,” economist Veaceslav Ionitsa told Logos Press. – But in recent years, exports have begun to grow rapidly. It would be a pity if the imposed duties suspend this process. Although for the main position – strong alcoholic beverages – the main thing is not the duties, but the access to the market”.
Approximately the same can be said about cigarettes. There the price practically does not matter because of the highest excise duties.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean promised at a press conference on Thursday that the government will help companies that will be affected by the tariff hike. “Approximately 2.5% of Moldova’s exports have been hit. We understand the concerns of our producers, who have consistently sought to enter the US market. The government will support these entrepreneurs in order to preserve their competitiveness,” the Moldovan prime minister said.
