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theboardiQ Tariffs Dashboard:
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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
Based on the latest available information as of October 2025, here is an update on the US tariffs specifically concerning Saudi Arabia.
Unlike countries with significant trade deficits (like China) or those with formal trade agreements being renegotiated (like the EU or Japan), Saudi Arabia is primarily affected by the broad, non-country-specific tariffs the US has implemented globally.
Here is an updated table:
Area | Status (October 2025) | Key Details for Saudi Arabia |
Bilateral Trade Deals / Reciprocal Tariffs | No specific reciprocal tariff rate announced | Saudi Arabia was not listed among the countries with a finalized trade agreement to reduce the general tariff rates. However, a specific country-rate has not been published, meaning it generally falls under the baseline rates. |
Universal Baseline US Tariff | 10% (Implemented) | Imports from Saudi Arabia are subject to the 10% Universal Baseline Tariff (often referred to as the "Liberation Day" tariff) applied to most non-sanctioned countries. |
Global Sectoral Tariffs | 50% (Implemented) | Saudi Arabia, as a global exporter, is subject to the general increase in tariffs on certain materials, notably the 50% tariff on imported Steel and Aluminum (increased from 25% in June 2025). |
De Minimis Exemption | Suspended (Implemented) | The $800 de minimis threshold for duty-free entry into the US has been suspended for all countries (effective August 2025). This means even low-value shipments from Saudi Arabia are now subject to the applicable duties (e.g., the 10% baseline). |
Impact on Saudi Arabian Companies
The impact on Saudi companies is concentrated in key non-oil exports:
Steel and Aluminum Producers (Direct Hit):
Companies involved in exporting steel and aluminum products face the most significant direct impact from the 50% Section 232 tariffs. This dramatically increases the cost of their products in the US market, likely requiring them to either absorb the cost, seek new markets, or significantly reduce shipments to the US.
Petrochemicals and Downstream Products (Indirect/Sectoral Risk):
While crude oil and natural gas (the vast majority of US imports from KSA) are largely exempt from the new tariffs, Saudi companies exporting intermediate and finished petrochemical products could be affected by the 10% baseline tariff and new tariffs on certain chemicals or plastics (which are under investigation).
General Exporters (Logistical & Cost Burden):
All Saudi exporters must now factor in the 10% Universal Baseline Tariff on most goods. The suspension of the de minimis rule also adds a compliance and duty cost burden to every low-value shipment, impacting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and e-commerce transactions.
Key Context: While Saudi Arabia maintains a strong political and security relationship with the US, the new universal tariff policy treats all non-partner countries similarly, shifting the focus from bilateral agreements to sectoral protectionism.
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 |