Kazakhstan is ready for compromise with the US on trade issues
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev responded to Donald Trump’s letter on the introduction of a 25% tariff on goods imported from Kazakhstan. He said that the country is committed to developing fair, predictable, mutually beneficial trade relations with the United States, a long-standing trade and investment partner of Kazakhstan.
As the press service of the Akorda, the official residence and workplace of the president, reported, Tokayev confirmed that Kazakhstan is ready to continue a constructive dialogue in order to find a well-balanced solution to the current trade issues.
Earlier this week, Donald Trump sent Tokayev a letter, informing him of a new 25% duty on goods imported from Kazakhstan. In the letter, the U.S. president chose not to focus on the tightening of trade conditions (until now, a temporary 10% duty had been in effect for Kazakh goods), but rather emphasized the decision to continue trading with Kazakhstan — which Trump called «a great country» — despite the ongoing bilateral trade deficit for the U.S.
Trump justified the duties by citing alleged barriers to American goods entering the Kazakh market. He described these as «tariff and non-tariff practices and trade barriers.» Trump emphasized that bilateral trade relations are far from mutually beneficial and warned Astana against taking any retaliatory measures, making it clear that if it does, the U.S. will respond by proportionally increasing the tariff, adding 25% onto «whatever number you choose.»
The Ministry of Trade of Kazakhstan stated that the introduction of a 25% tariff by the U.S. will not affect 95% of Kazakhstan’s exports. According to the agency, key raw materials and strategic goods, including oil, uranium, silver, ferroalloys, tantalum and titanium, are exempt from the new tariffs, which allows their supplies to continue without additional duties. Kazakhstan has also sent its proposals to the White House to improve the terms of mutual trade, seeking to ensure a predictable trade regime and agreed decisions on market access issues.
In 2024, Kazakhstan and the U.S. reported $4.2 billion in trade turnover, a 4% increase compared to 2023 ($4.1 billion). The main export items from Kazakhstan to the U.S. are: crude oil – $1.1 billion (56.2%), uranium – $322.9 million (16.4%), silver – $239.9 million (12.2%), ferroalloys – $188.2 million (9.5%), tantalum and products made from it – $17.6 million (0.89%), and other goods. Between January and May 2025, the trade turnover amounted to $1.2 billion, while exports from Kazakhstan to the U.S. reached $418.2 million.
