US website: Trump’s tariffs on Iraq aim to drag it toward normalization
US website: Trump’s tariffs on Iraq aim to drag it toward normalization
8-23-2025
Al-Maalomah/Translation..
A report by the American website RealClearWorld confirmed on Saturday that the 35 percent tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump, which Trump announced on July 1st in a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, appears illogical due to the lack of trade competition between the two sides.
The report, translated by Al-Maalomah Agency, stated that “At first glance, Iraq seems an unlikely target. According to the US Trade Representative, in 2024, US goods exports to Iraq amounted to $1.7 billion, and imports from Iraq (including crude and refined oil) were $7.5 billion, resulting in a US goods trade deficit of $5.9 billion. In return, the United States exported industrial machinery, vehicles, medical equipment, agricultural products, and pharmaceuticals to Iraq, essential inputs for a country still on its path to post-conflict recovery.”
He added, “Imposing tariffs on Iraq under these circumstances does not seem logical. Rather, it appears to be politically motivated. By imposing his tariffs, Trump may be seeking to pressure Iraq to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel, even though the Iraqi parliament banned normalization in 2022.”
He continued, “Another goal is to redirect Iraq away from China, Iraq’s largest trading partner, thereby limiting Chinese influence, in addition to aligning Iraq with US-led blocs. Iraq is a ‘dialogue partner’ (potential member) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and is not a member of the BRICS group, although Trump’s tariffs may prompt it to reconsider.”
He explained, “One of the Trump administration’s key goals behind raising tariffs is to target institutions such as the Popular Mobilization Forces, which some US lawmakers have sought to sanction, as well as al-Fadl-linked entities in the legislative council, the oil and finance ministries, and the banking sector. It also aims to thwart efforts such as the ‘Joint Security Memorandum of Understanding’ between Iran and Iraq, which was the subject of the Sudanese prime minister’s recent meeting with an official in Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.”
The report noted that “what is most worrying is the timing. Iraq is heading for national elections in November, and the Sudanese prime minister’s complex electoral coalition includes the head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Therefore, US actions against the PMF and the Iraqi economy can be interpreted as a ploy to weaken this coalition. Trump’s actions point to a different approach: one based on transactions, irritability, and insensitive to internal Iraqi dynamics. These messages alienate moderates, empower hardliners, and raise doubts about America’s reliability as a long-term partner.”
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