U.S. effective tariff rate settles at 17%

August 4, 2025 (MLN): The U.S. Effective Tariff Rate (ETR) stands at 17%, showing the latest changes in reciprocal tariffs shared on July 27 and July 31, according to Fitch Ratings.

This marks an 8 percentage-point drop from April 3, 2025, when higher reciprocal tariffs were first introduced, but is still 3 percentage points higher than the estimate at the end of June 2025.

The new ETR reflects a 15% tariff rate on goods from the European Union, including automobiles and auto parts.

While this is significantly lower than the initially threatened 30% earlier in July, individual ETRs for EU member states will vary, ranging from approximately 3% to over 18%, depending on import composition and country of origin.

It also confirmed a reciprocal tariff rate for Canada of 35% on non-United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) compliant goods, resulting in an ETR of 10% that incorporates 50% tariffs on aluminum, steel and copper.

Tariffs on Mexico non-USMCA compliant goods remain at 25% while the U.S. trade negotiations continue.

The U.S. has also imposed a standard 15% reciprocal tariff rate on imports from countries with which it records a trade deficit, while a 10% baseline tariff remains in place for most other nations.

Tariffs on Chinese imports remain at 34%, placing China at the top of the list of major U.S. trading partners in terms of effective tariff burden under the updated regime introduced on August 1.

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