Donald Trump Puts Kyrgyzstan in a Difficult Position?

In recent months, Kyrgyzstan's attention has been focused on the opportunities provided by Iranian ports, which are viewed as key logistics hubs for accessing international markets. However, the Trump administration is increasing pressure on countries that do business with Iran by imposing 25% tariffs on all trade operations with the United States.

Thus, anyone engaging in commercial activities with the Islamic Republic will face new economic barriers. This innovation adds to the existing tariffs that were introduced on August 1, 2025, when special tariffs were established for Central Asian countries: 25% for Kazakhstan and 10% for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

For official Bishkek, this decision represents a serious challenge. Plans for a "logistics breakthrough" are now under threat due to high tariffs that could negatively impact trade with the U.S. Kyrgyzstan had relied on Iranian ports to boost its economic activity, but the new restrictions may call these ambitious strategies into question.

Data for the current year confirms active trade relations between Kyrgyzstan and Iran: in the first ten months of 2025, the republic imported Iranian goods worth $35 million, including fish, paint, and mining equipment. In turn, Iran purchased products from Kyrgyzstan worth $30 million, primarily beans and cotton. Such an ultimatum from Washington threatens these trade flows, forcing the country to seek a compromise between implementing strategic logistics initiatives and ensuring export opportunities to the U.S.