As of Saturday, April 19, 2025, here's the latest update on tariffs related to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), focusing primarily on the United States due to recent global tariff changes: United States Tariffs on Goods from the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Reciprocal Tariff: As part of the "reciprocal tariffs" announced by the United States, goods originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are subject to an additional ad valorem duty of 11%. This tariff went into effect on April 9, 2025.   90-Day Pause: However, it's crucial to note that on April 9, 2025, the U.S. announced a 90-day pause on these reciprocal tariffs for most countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This pause took effect on April 10, 2025, and will last until July 9, 2025. Current Effective Rate: During this 90-day pause, imports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are subject to the baseline reciprocal tariff rate of 10%. Exemptions: Certain goods might be exempt from these new tariffs, as outlined in the Reciprocal Tariffs Executive Order. These exemptions include pharmaceuticals, certain critical minerals, and energy products.   Steel and Aluminum: It's important to check if standard Section 232 tariffs on steel (25%) and aluminum (10%) apply to goods from the DRC, although the recent updates haven't specifically mentioned changes for the DRC in this regard. AGOA Status: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is eligible for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for nearly 7,000 products. It's important to verify if specific imported goods from the DRC qualify for this preferential treatment, which would mean they are not subject to the new reciprocal tariffs or the baseline rate during the pause, as long as they meet AGOA requirements. AGOA is set to expire in September 2025, which adds a layer of future uncertainty.   Democratic Republic of the Congo's Tariffs: The DRC's external tariff structure involves three ad valorem rates based on the Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value: 5%: Equipment goods, raw materials, agricultural and veterinary supplies, and unassembled equipment. 10%: Large consumable food items, industrial inputs, spare parts, and items for social services (like hospitals). 20%: Other goods.   Value Added Tax (VAT): In addition to tariffs, the DRC applies a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 16% on most imported goods. Certain essential items like wheat, flour, oil, milk, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural inputs are exempt from VAT.   Other Taxes and Fees: Importers in the DRC also face various other taxes and fees collected by different government agencies, which can collectively range from 0.59% to 40% of the import value. These include charges from the customs authority (DGDA), tax authority (DGI), and other specific agencies.   Key Considerations: The U.S. and the DRC have a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) in place since 1989, aiming to promote and protect investments in both countries. The DRC is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), with which the U.S. has a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).   The recent U.S. tariff regime has raised concerns among African trade ministers, including those in the DRC, about increased operating costs for exporters who have relied on preferential agreements like AGOA. In summary, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently subject to a 10% baseline tariff on exports to the United States due to the 90-day pause on the higher reciprocal tariff rate of 11%, it's crucial for businesses to monitor the expiration of this pause in July 2025 and to investigate potential duty-free access under AGOA. The DRC itself has a tiered tariff system and a 16% VAT on imports, along with other fees.