Will Trump's tariffs make the Middle East's struggling economies competitive

Egypt was hit with just a 10 percent tariff rate, the lowest baseline introduced by the Trump administration. This is absolutely a boost for Egypt’s garment industry. In Trump's world, all Egypt needs to do is be cheaper than Southeast Asia in low-skilled manufacturing. The prime example is the garment industry, which is fairly mobile and requires relatively little up-front investment.

Jordan’s exports to the US have been growing in recent years. Jordan’s tariff rate is not nearly as bad as other countries. US goods imports from Jordan totalled $3.4bn in 2024, up 15 percent from 2023. Countries like Morocco could also pinch new business thanks to Trump's tariffs (Read more at Middle East Eye).