U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 30% tariff on goods imported from Libya and Algeria, effective August 1.
The move is part of a broader set of trade actions aimed at “addressing the trade imbalance” between the U.S. and these two nations, according to official notifications Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
In formal letters to Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Trump stated that the decision was prompted by a “persistent imbalance” in bilateral trade relations.
He noted that the tariffs would not apply if Libyan or Algerian companies opted to manufacture their products within the United States, promising to “expedite regulatory approvals” to support such investments.
Trump further warned that any retaliatory tariff hikes by Libya or Algeria on U.S. goods would be met with proportional increases, arguing that these steps are essential to “correct long-standing unfair trade practices.”
The announcement follows Trump’s recent threat to impose an additional 10% tariff on countries he accuses of supporting “anti-American policies,” without naming them. He has already approved 25% tariffs on Tunisian imports and 30% on those from South Africa.
All measures are set to take effect after the current negotiation window closes on August 1.
