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Trump’s 25% ‘Iran tax’ goes global: Who are key trading partners now in line of fire?

With US announcing 25% tariff on countries that do business with Iran, the country's trade with China, India, Brazil and others could face fresh pressure.

4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jan 14, 2026 08:51 AM IST

A man burns a photo of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a protest at the Iranian Consulate in Milan, Italy, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP)

US President Donald Trump has announced 25% tariffs on countries that do business with Iran. Part of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), fuel is unsurprisingly Iran’s biggest export by value, but the country also imports goods such as vegetables, machinery and other equipment.

While Trump hasn’t clarified what “doing business” means, and if the 25% tax would apply on top of existing tariffs, here’s a quick look at some of Iran’s biggest trading partners.

China

According to the World Bank, Iran’s exports to China stood at $22 billion in 2022, making Beijing Tehran’s biggest trading partner. Fuel made up more than half of these exports, while Iran’s imports from China were valued at $15 billion. Data from analytics firm Kpler shows that China bought over 80% of Iran’s total oil shipments.

Despite being among the world’s largest oil producers, Iran has faced persistent difficulties in selling its crude in recent years because of US-imposed sanctions.

United Arab Emirates

The total trade volume between the UAE and Iran stood at $6.62 billion in 2024, according to data from the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Economy and Tourism. However, the UAE has mostly acted as a re-export hub for Iran, allowing the country to move products through its ports into the global market.

Brazil

Fuelled by agribusiness, Iran has found a stable trading partner in Brazil. According to a report by CNN Brasil citing federal data, Brazilian exports to Iran amounted to more than $3 billion in 2024.

Brazil majorly exports soybeans, followed by other products like sugar and corn; it imports very little from Iran. However, the two countries have reportedly decided to increase their trade volume to $10 billion.

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Turkey

According to sector and official data sources, Turkish exports to Iran stood at $2.3 billion last year, while imports amounted to $2.2 billion in the first 11 months of 2025.

Also Read | China opposes Donald Trump’s tariff threat against nations doing business with Iran

According to Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the total volume of trade with Iran stood at $5,68 billion in 2024. While Turkey mostly exports machinery, plastics, metal ores and numerous chemical and agricultural products, it mainly imports metal and natural gas.

Germany

Germany’s trade with Iran has also increased slightly in the last year. According to the state-owned international economic promotion agency Germany Trade & Invest, Iran’s exports to Germany amounted to 217 million euros, increasing by 1.7%. Iran’s imports stood at $2.2 billion in the first 11 months of 2025.

India

India is also one of Iran’s trading partners. Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $1.34 billion in the first 10 months of 2025, with India exporting mainly basmati rice, vegetables, medicines and pharmaceutical products, and fruits.

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India imports dry fruits, inorganic and organic chemicals and glassware. According to TIME, if India stops importing from Iran, the country’s fresh fruit supply could be impacted in the short term and also hit the basmati rice sector.

South Korea

Data from the Korea International Trade Association says that South Korea’s exports to Iran between January and November 2025 stand at $129 million, while imports account for just $1.6 million during the same period.