Kazakhstan in Talks with U.S. Over New Tariffs, Most Exports Remain Unaffected

Kazakhstan is continuing negotiations with the United States over the introduction of new import tariffs, Orda.kz reports.

According to the Ministry of Trade, the duties affect only 4.8% of Kazakhstan’s total exports to the U.S., meaning 95.2% of goods remain exempt from the new restrictions. The Ministry of Trade and Integration stated that a bilateral meeting on the issue took place in June.

Kazakhstan also submitted an official proposal to the U.S. aimed at fostering stable and mutually beneficial trade, while ensuring fair market access, in line with the provisions of an executive order signed by Donald Trump.

Kazakhstan’s key exports to the U.S. include oil, uranium, silver, ferroalloys, tantalum, titanium, and beryllium — all of which remain unaffected by the new tariffs and will continue to be exported without restrictions.

The new duties apply to a small list of goods: yellow phosphorus, ferrosilicon, lenses, wheat gluten, and ammonium nitrate.

In the first half of 2025, Kazakhstan exported 2,200 tons of yellow phosphorus to the U.S. out of a total national output of 43,000 tons. Ferrosilicon shipments to the U.S. totaled 1,482.6 tons out of 41,830.1 tons produced.

Wheat gluten exports during the same period reached 6,500 tons, valued at approximately $8.12 million. Kazakhstan does not currently export ammonium nitrate to the U.S.

Original Author: Oksana Matvienko