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The Top 10 Arab Countries Most Affected by Trump’s Trade War

Since U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office in January, he has taken aggressive economic measures aimed at protecting American industry by imposing a series of new tariffs and customs duties on imports into the U.S. market from various countries — including America’s traditional allies.


The global trade war ignited by Trump shows no signs of slowing down. The escalating exchange of tariffs has hit major economies, caused stock markets to collapse, and curtailed growth prospects worldwide.


The conflict intensified further on April 2 — a day Trump called “Liberation Day” — when he announced a sweeping series of reciprocal tariffs targeting nearly every country doing business with the United States, dealing a heavy blow to free trade and globalization.



Impact of Trump’s Decision on Arab Countries



The trade war is expected to negatively impact the economic growth of Arab nations, a cornerstone of the region’s economy. Additionally, countries with currencies pegged to the U.S. dollar face immediate financial costs.


To understand the scope of the impact, we must examine the volume of Arab-American trade. According to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the total value of U.S. goods trade with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region reached approximately $141.7 billion in 2024.


  • U.S. exports to the region in 2024 totaled $80.4 billion, a 5.8% increase compared to 2023.

  • U.S. imports from the region amounted to $61.3 billion, a 1.6% decrease compared to 2023.

  • The U.S. trade surplus with the region reached $19.1 billion, a 39.8% increase over 2023.


Here’s a closer look at the U.S. trade relationship in 2024 with the top 10 Arab countries:


1. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

  • Largest Arab trading partner with the U.S.

  • Total trade: $34.4 billion

  • U.S. exports: $27 billion (+8.5%)

  • U.S. imports: $7.4 billion (+12.9%)

  • Trade surplus: $19.6 billion (+6.9%)


2. Saudi Arabia

  • Second-largest Arab trading partner with the U.S.

  • Total trade: $25.9 billion

  • U.S. exports: $13.2 billion (-4.8%)

  • U.S. imports: $12.7 billion (-19.9%)

  • Trade surplus: $0.5 billion (+121.6%)


3. Egypt

  • Total trade: $8.6 billion

  • U.S. exports: $6.1 billion (+36%)

  • U.S. imports: $2.5 billion (+6.7%)

  • Trade surplus: $3.6 billion (+69.4%)


4. Morocco

  • Total trade: $7.2 billion

  • U.S. exports: $5.3 billion (+37.3%)

  • U.S. imports: $1.9 billion (+12.3%)

  • Trade surplus: $3.4 billion (+57.1%)


5. Qatar

  • Total trade: $5.6 billion

  • U.S. exports: $3.8 billion (-18.3%)

  • U.S. imports: $1.8 billion (-10.3%)

  • Trade surplus: $2 billion (-24.5%)


6. Jordan

  • Total trade: $5.4 billion

  • U.S. exports: $2 billion (+30.9%)

  • U.S. imports: $3.4 billion (+15.4%)

  • Trade deficit: $1.4 billion (-2.3%)


7. Kuwait

  • Total trade: $4.1 billion

  • U.S. exports: $2.4 billion (-14.7%)

  • U.S. imports: $1.6 billion (-2.4%)

  • Trade surplus: $768.2 million (-32.9%)


8. Algeria

  • Total trade: $3.5 billion

  • U.S. exports: $1 billion (-15.5%)

  • U.S. imports: $2.5 billion (-18.7%)

  • Trade deficit: $1.5 billion (-20.9%)


9. Oman

  • Total trade: $3.3 billion

  • U.S. exports: $2 billion (+5.1%)

  • U.S. imports: $1.3 billion (-20.2%)

  • Trade surplus: $634.3 million (+210.1%)


10. Bahrain

  • Total trade: $2.9 billion

  • U.S. exports: $1.6 billion (-1.8%)

  • U.S. imports: $1.2 billion (+3.3%)

  • Trade surplus: $441.9 million (-13.3%)





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