The Trump administration is intensifying economic pressure on the international stage by imposing tariffs as a means of influence. In a recent statement, the U.S. president announced a 25% tariff for all countries interacting with Iran, which directly affects Kyrgyzstan. Now, any country that has trade relations with the Islamic Republic will be subject to a 25% tariff on transactions with the United States.
This measure adds to the already existing tariffs. It is worth noting that since August 1, 2025, Washington has imposed special tariffs for Central Asia: 25% for Kazakhstan, and 10% for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
For Kyrgyzstan, this decision poses a significant challenge. Previously, the republic had high hopes for developing logistics through Iranian ports, intending to use them as key hubs for accessing international markets. However, with the introduction of high tariffs on trade with the U.S., these plans may be at risk.
Data for the current year highlights the importance of economic ties between Kyrgyzstan and Iran: in the first ten months of 2025, Kyrgyzstan imported Iranian goods (mainly fish, paints, and mining equipment) worth $35 million. In response, Iran imported products from Kyrgyzstan worth $30 million, most of which consisted of beans and cotton. Washington's ultimatum casts doubt on these trade flows and forces Kyrgyzstan to seek a compromise between strategic logistics plans and the necessity of maintaining exports to the U.S.
