The Republic of Moldova – a Collateral Victim of US Trade Disputes
Automatically translated summary. The full text is available in Romanian.
On 2 April 2025, the United States announced “reciprocal” tariffs on imports from 57 countries and economic blocs, to take effect on 9 April. The Republic of Moldova faces a 31% rate. This article answers key questions on how the tariff was set and what trade flows with the US look like.
According to the US administration, the methodology weighs tariff and non-tariff barriers and currency manipulation. Moldova’s calculated reciprocal tariff was 61%, cut by 50% to 31%. Suspicions persist that only the US goods trade deficit was used. The approach has been criticised as opaque and arbitrary, ignoring Moldova’s size and vulnerability, and as unilateral, contrary to World Trade Organization rules. The measure comes while Moldova’s economy is technically in recession.
Reported 2024 figures diverge: Moldovan exports to the US stood at USD 90 million versus US imports from Moldova of USD 142 million, while Moldovan imports from the US were USD 135 million versus US exports of USD 54 million. Both sets are correct under the UN methodology, since imports are recorded by country of origin and exports by last known destination. Imports are therefore the better basis for assessing tariff impact. Gaps arise partly from logistics, with US goods reaching Moldova via regional hubs such as the EU.
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