WASHINGTON: The United States is set to raise tariffs on dozens of trading partners on Friday (tomorrow) if they fail to reach accords with President Donald Trump to avert the higher rates, and this risks raising prices for consumers.

Economists have warned that steeper US tariffs, paid for by importers of foreign products, could add to business costs and trickle down to households.

The risk is a dampening of consumption _ a key driver of the world’s biggest economy.

Trump’s tariffs could impact everything from coffee beans and rice to cocoa, seafood or even electronics.

Here are some examples of products in the crosshairs: Coffee — Over 99 per cent of America’s coffee is imported, according to the National Coffee Association. It said two-thirds of US adults drink coffee daily.

Top suppliers of coffee beans include Brazil, Colombia and Vietnam, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

But Brazil, which accounted for over 30pc of such imports in recent years, faces a 50pc tariff threat come Aug 1.

In a letter to Brazil’s leadership, Trump cited a judicial “witch hunt” against his right-wing ally, ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, in unveiling the rate.

Imports from Vietnam face a 20pc additional tariff even after a deal the Southeast Asian country recently struck with Trump.

Shirts

Clothing like shirts and sweaters could also become pricier. China, Vietnam and Bangladesh accounted for more than half of US apparel imports from January through May this year, said the American Apparel & Footwear Association.

All three countries face different tariff levels under the Trump administration.

Chinese goods, which account for nearly a third of apparel imports, were hit by a fresh 30pc duty this year _ piling atop existing ones.

If an existing truce expiring on Aug 12 is not extended, tariffs on products from China could surge even higher, causing companies to halt imports or be forced to pass on more costs.

Vietnamese goods accounted for nearly 20pc of clothing imports while those from Bangladesh made up about 11pc.

Trump has threatened to impose a 35pc duty on Bangladeshi goods.

Jasmine rice

The United States is the biggest rice importing country in the Western Hemisphere, bringing in some 1.3 million tons. More than 60pc of the country’s rice imports are aromatic varieties, mostly jasmine from Thailand and basmati from Pakistan and India.

Thailand faces a prospective 36pc tariff come Friday, Pakistan 29pc and India 26pc.

Cocoa

US imports of cocoa beans _ mostly from places like Ivory Coast and Ecuador _ averaged over $1.1 billion annually from 2017 to 2021Among them, Ivory Coast faces a 21pc tariff.

Cocoa butter shipments were valued at $576m annually and mainly supplied by Indonesia and Malaysia, facing fresh duties of 19pc and 25pc, respectively.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2025