Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on any country that "does business" with Iran. The order targets imports from all of Iran's trade partners, including China, India, Turkey, the UAE, Brazil, and Russia.
The White House has not yet clarified the specific meaning of "doing business" with Iran or how the policy will be implemented.
This executive order takes effect on February 7, 2026, and authorizes the U.S. government to impose a 25% tariff on any country that has trade relations with Iran. However, there is some ambiguity and room for flexible interpretation regarding its specific meaning and implementation.
This is an escalation of the "maximum pressure" policy against Iran, aiming to economically isolate Iran completely by threatening its trade partners (i.e., "secondary sanctions"), especially to cut off its revenue from energy, metal, and petrochemical exports.
The signing of the order coincided almost simultaneously with the resumption of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran in Oman. This was widely interpreted as a "carrot and stick" strategy, intended to increase the U.S.'s leverage in negotiations, indicating that the high-pressure policy would continue regardless of the negotiation progress.
Iran's main trading partners may become potential targets for U.S. sanctions. According to existing trade data:
China is Iran's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $30 billion in 2024, accounting for more than a quarter of Iran's foreign trade. (This trade volume is not significant for China but is substantial for Iran.)
Other important partners include Iraq, Turkey, the UAE, and Russia.
Notable exemptions: Reports indicate that India, which has cooperated with U.S. foreign policy (such as stopping the purchase of Russian oil), has been rewarded by the U.S. with the removal of previous punitive tariffs. This shows that the policy may involve selectivity and bargaining in its implementation.
In summary, the core of this executive order is to establish a "threat mechanism":
The definition of "doing business" is broad, giving the U.S. government significant discretion and interpretive space.
There is a complex multi-department process from "identification" to "tariff collection," which is not immediate.
The main purpose is maximum pressure for the sake of negotiations and to try to encircle Iran's economy globally.
Due to the high flexibility of the policy, which countries and which goods will actually be subject to additional taxes ultimately depends on the progress of U.S.-Iran negotiations, the responses of relevant countries, and the U.S.'s own strategic considerations.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1856482840550400/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.