The Libyan Customs Authority has stated that the newly imposed US tariffs by former President Donald Trump will have minimal impact on Libya due to the lack of significant trade between the two nations.
According to Al-Massar TV, the authority clarified on Thursday that Libya does not export manufactured goods to the United States, making the effect of these tariff changes on the Libyan economy negligible.
The statement comes after Trump announced a general 10% tariff on all imports to the US, alongside higher tariffs on several countries, including Libya, which will now face a 31% import duty. However, Libyan officials emphasised that these tariff measures apply globally and are not specifically targeted at Libya.
The customs authority highlighted that Libya already imposes a 61% tariff on US imports, further limiting trade exchanges between the two countries. Given the current economic structure, the impact of these new US tariffs on Libyan businesses and consumers is expected to be minimal.
Libya and the US have historically maintained limited trade relations, with most Libyan exports directed toward Europe and Asia. Libyan imports from the US mainly include machinery, medical equipment, and specialised technology, but these transactions remain relatively small in scale.
Economic experts suggest that Libya’s primary trade concerns lie with European and regional partners rather than the US. While the tariff announcement has raised concerns globally, Libya’s economic policies and trade dependencies mean that it is unlikely to experience any significant repercussions from these new regulations.
