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 focusing on US Tariffs, recent Deals and Agreements, the status with Samoa, and the impact on companies, as of October 2025.
US Tariffs: Deals and Agreements
The current environment is characterized by a strong focus on bilateral trade agreements to replace broader free trade frameworks, coupled with new, sector-specific tariffs imposed for national security or reciprocal reasons.
Trading Partner | Agreement Status (October 2025) | Key Details |
China | Truce Ended / Escalation | Hostilities have resumed with China imposing new rare earth export controls. The U.S. has threatened an additional 100% tariff on all Chinese goods, effective November 1, 2025. |
Japan | Framework Agreement Reached | A "strategic trade and investment agreement" was announced in July 2025 and finalized in September. The U.S. imposed a 15% tariff on most Japanese imports—a reduction from a previously proposed 25%. |
Samoa | No Free Trade Agreement | There is no Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Samoa. However, the U.S. is Samoa's largest export market. Separately, the U.S. has begun procedures to potentially sell ocean mining rights off the coast of American Samoa for critical minerals. |
General | New Sector Tariffs | New tariffs have been introduced or are planned for various sectors, including: |
* **25%** on imported medium and heavy-duty trucks (effective November 1, 2025).
* **100%** on pharmaceutical products (threatened unless manufacturers build in the U.S.).
* **25-50%** on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and bathroom vanities (phased implementation began in October 2025). |
Impact on Companies and Consumers
The wide-ranging tariffs imposed in 2025 continue to disrupt supply chains and are shifting costs throughout the economy:
Rising Costs and Prices: Tariffs are largely being paid by U.S. importing firms and are increasingly being passed on to U.S. consumers. Surveys indicate that a majority of impacted companies plan to raise prices within six months. Prices for imported goods have risen, with domestic prices also increasing due to higher input costs and reduced import competition.
Sector-Specific Impact:
Importers/Retailers: Face increased operating costs and are absorbing or passing on tariffs on goods like furniture and appliances.
Manufacturers: Companies in industries like trucking, auto parts, and wood products are directly affected by new and rising tariffs on components and finished goods. The tariffs aim to boost domestic manufacturers, but critics warn of increased costs for businesses and consumers.
Shipping & Logistics: New U.S. fees on Chinese-built, owned, or operated vessels and shipping containers (effective October 14, 2025) will directly increase costs for vessel operators and shipping lines, which will likely be reflected in freight rates.
Supply Chain Changes: A significant percentage of companies are streamlining or reconfiguring their supply chains in response to the tariff uncertainty. A large number of companies are considering reshoring operations to the U.S., though this is hampered by high labor/operational costs and capital investment requirements.
Macroeconomic View: The tariffs have resulted in a substantial increase in federal tariff revenue. However, economists from institutions like the IMF and Yale Budget Lab assess that the tariffs are acting as a drag on economic growth and contributing to inflationary pressure.
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 |