WASHINGTON (Dispatches) – U.S. President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new tariffs, imposing steep trade barriers on six Arab countries—Syria, Iraq, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Jordan—as part of his so-called effort to “rebalance trade.” 
According to the White House executive order, Syria faces the harshest rate at 41%, followed by Iraq (35%), Libya and Algeria (30%), Tunisia (25%), and Jordan (15%). These punitive tariffs come amid a broader list that includes other nations, ranging from Brazil at 50% to Switzerland at 39%, with a baseline tariff of 10% on countries not explicitly mentioned.
Trump proudly defended the move on his Truth Social platform, boasting, “Tariffs are making America GREAT & RICH Again,” while an NBC interview saw him insist the duties would remain firmly in place, declaring the process was going “very well, very smoothly.” 
Yet, behind this self-congratulatory rhetoric lies a glaring display of humiliating power dynamics—one in which Arab regimes, already weakened by corruption and internal instability, appear powerless in the face of blatant economic coercion from Washington.
The condescending treatment of these Arab states exposes their governments’ profound weakness and failure to assert meaningful sovereignty or protect their people’s economic interests. 
Instead of standing united or demanding respect on the international stage, many of these regimes continue to acquiesce, accepting the humiliating tariffs with little resistance—further exposing their subservience to US geopolitical whims.
These tariffs are far from a mere “trade rebalancing” tool; they constitute a blunt instrument of economic pressure aimed at reinforcing Washington’s dominance. 
The measures, set to take effect on August 7, threaten to exacerbate already fragile economies in the Middle East, which struggle with high unemployment, inflation, and weak growth. 
Analysts warn that these tariffs risk disrupting critical supply chains and deepening inflationary pressures, inflicting real hardship on ordinary citizens whose governments lack the resolve or capacity to push back effectively.
Trump’s tariff onslaught reveals not only his administration’s reckless disregard for global economic stability but also the stark reality of Arab regimes’ continued failure to defend their sovereignty and dignity in the face of humiliating U.S. economic aggression.