Ease of doing business
theboardiQ Tariffs Dashboard:
Powering Mutually Beneficial Global Trade.
Understand the complexities of international tariffs and ease of doing business across nations to cultivate balanced trade relationships, streamline operations, and deliver cost savings to end consumers.
Implications
The global tariff environment continues to be highly volatile, marked by new sector-specific tariffs, re-engagement with certain trading partners, and shifts in global supply chains.
Here is an update on the US tariff status, focusing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the broader impact on companies as of October 2025.
1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) - Trade Status
The relationship with the DRC is primarily focused on critical minerals and regional security, with less emphasis on a traditional bilateral free trade agreement.
Area | Status (October 2025) | Key Details |
Trade Status | AGOA Eligible (General Status) | The DRC remains eligible for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access for many of its products into the US market. |
Mineral Trade Focus | Increased US Imports | US imports from the DRC, largely driven by critical minerals (like copper, cobalt, and gold), hit a record high through July 2025. |
Bilateral Deal Context | Security/Mineral Access | The US has been actively involved in brokering a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda (signed June 2025), which includes a framework to link both countries with the US government and US investors on economic projects, including critical minerals. The DRC previously sought US security assistance in exchange for critical mineral access. |
US Tariffs on Copper | 50% Section 232 Tariff | The US imposed a 50% tariff on imports of semi-refined copper products under Section 232, effective August 1, 2025. This aims to boost domestic smelting and refining, which has a direct impact on the DRC's major export sector. However, other key exports like unrefined copper may still enter duty-free. |
2. US Tariffs - Latest Sector Updates and Agreements
New sector-specific tariffs and new deal frameworks have been a major focus of US trade policy.
Area | Latest Tariffs (Implemented/Pending) | Related Trade Deals/Agreements |
Heavy-Duty Trucks | 25% (Effective November 1, 2025) | Announced to protect US domestic manufacturers (e.g., Peterbilt, Kenworth) from foreign competition. |
Wood/Furniture | 10% to 50% (Implemented October 14, 2025) | Tariffs on softwood timber (10%), upholstered furniture (25%), and kitchen cabinets/vanities (25%) are taking effect, with planned increases in January 2026. |
Pharmaceuticals | 100% (Threatened/Imposed in Oct 2025) | A 100% tariff was announced on branded and patented pharmaceutical products unless manufacturers set up production facilities in the US. |
EU, Japan, South Korea | New Frameworks | The US has announced bilateral deal frameworks with the European Union, Japan, and South Korea that aim to cap or adjust reciprocal tariff rates in exchange for commitments (often related to investment or supply chain adjustments). |
General Rate | Global 10% Reciprocal Tariff | The global baseline 10% reciprocal tariff remains in place for most non-sanctioned countries. |
3. Company and Consumer Impact
The corporate impact of the new tariff environment is complex and still unfolding:
Consumer Price Rises: Data suggests that import prices are rising for US consumers, with retailers gradually absorbing or passing on the tariff costs. Price increases have been noted in household appliances, furniture, and other everyday consumer goods.
Cost for Domestic Firms: US firms importing foreign components are bearing the brunt of the costs, which acts as a tax on their inputs. Economic analysis indicates the tariffs have been borne almost entirely by US firms and consumers.
Trade Rerouting/Diversion: Companies are increasingly looking to reroute supply chains to countries not subject to the highest tariffs (e.g., Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia), which is causing an import surge in these intermediary nations.
Impact on Construction/Housing: New tariffs on wood and wood products are expected to raise the cost of building a home.
Corporate Strategy: Many companies are in a wait-and-see mode, hesitant to commit to major supply chain shifts until there is greater clarity on the long-term tariff schedule.
US Revised Tariffs
Country Tariffs
Balance of Trade
Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in countries, prepared by U.S. Embassies worldwide, Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Tariff Rate for US
World Bank staff estimates using the World Integrated Trade Solution system, based on tariff data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's Trade Analysis and Information System ( TRAINS ) database and global imports data from the United Nations Statistics Division's Comtrade database.
US Imports Guide
United States Imports from Countries during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United States Imports from Countries- data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on April of 2025.
Investing in USA
theboardiQ Economic Relevance Score, ranks States of USA based on 11 parameters
Sources : Forbes | USDA Economic Research | TCGen Total Innovation Rank Index | Best States for Manufacturing | World Population Review | Tax Foundation | US News | BEA Data | Wikipedia | International Trade Administration
theboardiQ's Economic Relevance Score provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of a nation's economic vitality and global significance. This score is meticulously calculated using 11 key parameters, each reflecting a critical facet of economic performance. It analyzes the representation of Fortune 500 companies within a nation, a strong indicator of its business environment and market size. The balance of trade surplus or deficit reveals the nation's international competitiveness and export strength. It incorporates Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a fundamental measure of overall economic output, and examine the health of key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. The score also accounts for innovation, gauging a nation's ability to drive future growth through technological advancements. Crucial labor market indicators such as employment rates are considered, alongside fiscal policies reflected in tax rates. To capture the lived experience of citizens, it assesses cost of living and disposable income, providing insight into purchasing power and economic well-being. Finally, education levels are integrated, recognizing their pivotal role in fostering a skilled workforce and driving long-term economic development. By synthesizing these 11 parameters, theboardiQ's Economic Relevance Score delivers a nuanced and holistic view of a nation's economic standing, enabling informed strategic decisions. The Top 5 States in the assessment are Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Washington. Texas does consistently well across most of the 11 variables especially in the areas of GDP, F500 representation in the State, Balance of Trade where it ranks 2nd nationally. North Carolina scores as the highest-ranking state nationally in manufacturing and performs consistently across the other variables. Virginia does well in disposable income where it ranks 3rd nationally. It also scores high in the variables of manufacturing and employment Florida holds the 4th ranking nationally for GDP and Tax Washington State scores the top spot for disposable income nationally, 2nd for education and 3rd for innovation. Colorado, with an overall rank of 7 scores the top spot for Education (schools and higher education). Nebraska, that ranked 10th overall, did well in Agriculture where it is ranked 3rd nationally as well as Trade Balance where it ranked 5th. Illinois, though ranked 20th overall did well nationally in F500 representation, GDP, Agriculture, and Disposable Income. Pennsylvania comes in at 21 overall doing well nationally in GDP (6th); Manufacturing (8th) and F500 representation (8th) New York scores 23rd overall with a 2 ranking in Disposable Income nationally, as well as 3rd in both F500 representation and GDP. California comes in at 29th overall and has the top spot ranking in a whopping 4 variables nationally – GDP, Innovation, Agriculture and F500 representation. However, performance in the areas of Trade Balance, Cost of Living, Tax, Manufacturing and Employment resulted in the overall ranking dipping. Wyoming at 30th overall scores the top spot nationally in the area of Tax Massachusetts at 31 overall does well in innovation where it is ranked 2nd nationally Arkansas at 36 and Alabama at 39, do well in overall Cost of Living where they are ranked 2nd and 3rd nationally, respectively. Louisiana ranked 44th overall is ranked 1st in Trade Balance nationally.
Economic
Relevance
Ranking
State | Info | Overall Rank | Agri | Innov | Mfg | Employ | Tax | Edu | GDP | F500 Rep | Trade Balance | Cost of Living | Disp Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texas | 1 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 42 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 13 | |
North Carolina | 2 | 9 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 28 | 11 | 16 | 41 | 17 | 17 | |
Virginia | 3 | 32 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 34 | 35 | 3 | |
Florida | 4 | 21 | 11 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 35 | 4 | 7 | 40 | 30 | 37 | |
Washington | 5 | 16 | 3 | 36 | 28 | 45 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 43 | 1 | |
Missouri | 6 | 11 | 25 | 22 | 20 | 13 | 32 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 10 | 20 | |
Georgia | 7 | 15 | 26 | 9 | 3 | 26 | 34 | 8 | 9 | 43 | 26 | 19 | |
Minnesota | 8 | 6 | 10 | 47 | 6 | 44 | 8 | 20 | 10 | 33 | 33 | 9 | |
Ohio | 9 | 12 | 32 | 7 | 30 | 35 | 36 | 7 | 5 | 38 | 15 | 11 | |
Illinois | 10 | 5 | 23 | 31 | 23 | 37 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 47 | 32 | 7 |