
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
Here is an update on US tariffs, key trade agreements, the Marshall Islands, and the impact on US companies, based on developments as of October 2025.
1. US Tariffs Update & Trade Deals
The overarching theme is a significant escalation of trade tensions, particularly with China, which has ended a fragile "truce" that had been in place for several months.
Partner/Topic | Status (October 2025) | Key Details |
China Tariffs | Extreme Escalation / Trade War Resumes | A fragile trade truce has collapsed. US President Donald Trump has threatened an additional 100% tariff on all Chinese imports, effective November 1, 2025, in retaliation for China imposing new restrictions on rare earth mineral exports. The total potential tariff rate on Chinese goods could rise to approximately 130%. |
China's Response | Countermeasures | China has warned it will take "corresponding measures" and has already imposed new export controls on rare earth minerals (critical to high-tech and defense industries) and new port fees on U.S. vessels. |
Global Tariffs (Baseline) | 10% (Implemented) | The universal "Reciprocal Tariff" of 10% on most goods from non-sanctioned countries remains in effect. |
Tariff Truces/Agreements | Preliminary Agreements Reached | The administration had reached preliminary agreements/truces with several partners, including Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea, the UK, the EU, and Japan, between April and August 2025. These deals often involve tariff reductions or caps in exchange for concessions. |
2. Marshall Islands (Republic of the Marshall Islands - RMI)
The Marshall Islands' economic status is primarily tied to its relationship with the US through the Compact of Free Association (COFA), not traditional trade tariffs.
Area | Status (October 2025) | Key Details |
Compact of Free Association (COFA) | Restructured and Funded | A new 20-year funding agreement under the COFA has been agreed upon, providing $2.3 billion in aid starting in Fiscal Year 2024. This funding is crucial for the RMI's economy. |
Bilateral Treaties | None | The RMI has no bilateral investment treaties or income-tax treaties with the United States. |
Foreign Investment | Generally Open with Restrictions | Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is permitted with a Foreign Investment Business License (FIBL), but a "Reserved List" restricts foreign participation in small-scale retail, small agriculture, and certain transport services. |
3. Impact on US Companies
The renewed tariff war with China is immediately creating significant uncertainty and cost pressures across multiple US sectors.
Sector/Topic | Impact Status | Key Details |
General Cost/Prices | Rising Costs and Uncertainty | Economic models suggest that a high percentage of the 2025 tariffs have been passed on to domestic consumers and producers. A surge to a 130% tariff rate would severely increase import costs, potentially worsening inflation and disrupting supply chains. |
Technology / Defense | Highly Vulnerable | China's restrictions on rare earth minerals are a direct threat to US technology, defense, electric vehicle, and renewable energy sectors, as these minerals are essential for their products. |
Specific Companies | Targeted Scrutiny and Market Volatility | The renewed trade conflict has led to sharp stock market drops, particularly in the tech sector. Additionally, China has targeted US interests, such as launching an antitrust investigation into the acquisition by U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm, signaling a tit-for-tat escalation. |
Supply Chain Diversification | Accelerated Trend | Companies are accelerating efforts to move manufacturing out of China to countries like India, Vietnam, and Mexico to mitigate tariff risks, though this process is slow and costly. |
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 |