【By Observer, Qi Qian】In April, U.S. President Trump announced so-called "reciprocal tariffs," and Kazakhstan was among them.

Earlier this week, Trump sent tariff letters to nearly 20 countries, with Kazakhstan being the only Central Asian country on the list. The letter threatened that if the country did not reach a trade agreement by August 1, it would face a 25% tariff.

The New York Times reported on July 11 that the attitude of the Trump administration shocked Kazakh officials, as the country has minimal trade with the United States despite its borders with China and Russia. However, the article analyzed that Kazakhstan is rich in critical minerals and rare earth resources, and is deepening its relationship with China, while the U.S. has an urgent need for these minerals.

The article stated that the aggressive approach of the Trump administration marked a shift for Kazakhstan. Over the past decade, U.S. officials had consistently promised funding and support to the country to promote an open economy, especially in the mining sector.

Historically, the U.S. was a major investor in Kazakhstan, with investments mainly focused on oil and gas development. After peaking in 2022, U.S. investment in the country has been declining. In recent years, mining companies from the U.S. and other countries have been seeking ways to develop Kazakhstan's mineral resources. In 2024, the Kazakh government issued more than 50% more mining exploration licenses compared to the previous year.

It is reported that Kazakhstan is a potential hotspot for key minerals and rare earth metals needed for electric vehicles and other advanced products. Kazakhstan has long been known for its uranium, gold, and other metal reserves. This year, the government also announced the discovery of a large rare earth deposit. If confirmed, this deposit would make Kazakhstan one of the world's largest rare earth reserves.

The New York Times said that the global supply of key minerals and rare earth materials is mainly dominated by China, and the U.S. is urgently trying to build independent supply chains separate from China.

Additionally, Kazakhstan is a partner country of the BRICS group. Recently, Trump accused BRICS of promoting "anti-American policies" without justification and threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on any country that allied with the group.

In recent years, Kazakhstan has attracted investment in the mining industry. Media

Kazakhstan has deepened its economic ties with China. Last month, the country announced cooperation with China in multiple areas such as energy, aerospace, agriculture, and e-commerce. For Kazakhstan, the trade volume with China is ten times that with the U.S. President Tokayev of Kazakhstan previously stated that the bilateral relations between China and Kazakhstan have entered a golden era and said that China has not attached political conditions to the cooperation.

The article also mentioned that due to its location between China and Russia, Kazakhstan is in a delicate strategic balance. The country does not want to overly rely on either powerful neighbor and has sought help from European and North American investors to fund its economic development in recent years.

However, analysts say that Trump's tariff threats may backfire, further pushing Kazakhstan toward China and Russia.

Recently, Teniz Capital, a Kazakh investment bank, stated in a report to clients: "Many people in the region see the U.S. as a potential balancing force against its huge neighbors, China and Russia. Now, this goodwill is at risk of deteriorating. As the U.S. raises barriers, China and Russia are preparing to take advantage of the opportunity to find stable partners in Central Asia."

Kazakh port, media

On July 7, U.S. President Trump announced that he would impose tariffs on imports from 14 countries, including Kazakhstan. Imports from Kazakhstan will be subject to a 25% tariff. The new tariff measures will take effect on August 1. Trump also stated that the U.S. will impose a 50% tariff on copper imports. Copper is a key metal mined in Kazakhstan.

At the same time, data show that Trump's tariffs will affect products worth less than $100 million from Kazakhstan, accounting for about 5% of its exports. Kazakh government officials also said that over 90% of its exports to the U.S. will be exempt from tariffs, such as uranium, iron alloys, silver, and oil. Despite this, the country said it is ready to negotiate trade terms with Washington.

The Kazakh trade department stated on the 8th that it had submitted specific proposals and initiatives aimed at improving bilateral trade relations to the Trump administration. The department said that the U.S. is reviewing its proposal and will determine the negotiation date.

The Trump administration considers the tariffs as necessary measures to correct "unfair trade imbalances." However, the Kazakh trade department pointed out that in the first five months of this year, Kazakhstan had a trade deficit with the U.S., with the amount of U.S. goods imported being twice that of its exports.

According to the website of the Kazakh presidential administration, Tokayev wrote back to Trump on the 10th, stating that Kazakhstan, as a long-term trade and investment partner of the U.S., is committed to developing a fair, predictable, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship with the U.S. He expressed his willingness to continue constructive dialogue with the U.S. and work towards a reasonable resolution of trade issues, and believed that both sides could reach a consensus on this issue.

This article is exclusive to Observer, and unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7525822442367926824/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author, and readers are welcome to express their opinions by clicking on the [Up/Down] buttons below.