US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on goods imported from countries supplying military equipment to Iran, a move that could further disrupt global trade flows already strained by geopolitical tensions.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the tariff would take effect immediately and would apply without exemptions. However, no details have been provided regarding the specific countries targeted or the legal mechanism that would be used to implement the measure.
The announcement comes amid ongoing uncertainty over the administration’s tariff authority. Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court limited the president’s ability to impose broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, raising questions about how such a policy could be enforced.
Trade experts have also expressed scepticism. Pete Mento, director of global trade advisory services at Baker Tilly, noted that without IEEPA authority, implementing such a tariff would be difficult in practice.
The proposal follows earlier threats by Trump to introduce a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran, which also remains unimplemented.
The timing of the announcement is significant, coming just after a two-week ceasefire agreement involving the US, Iran and Israel. The conflict, which began on February 28, has already disrupted supply chains, driven up fuel costs and complicated contract negotiations across the logistics sector.
While the conditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could offer some relief, uncertainty remains high. Analysts note that many vessels may hesitate to return immediately due to ongoing security concerns, despite the strategic importance of the route, which handles around 20% of global seaborne oil and most LNG exports from the region.
