Though countries around the world breathed a sigh of relief after US President Donald Trump paused his “reciprocal” tariffs for 90 days on Wednesday, some of the world's most underprivileged nations could still be hit with steep charges if the levies are ultimately enforced, as they also grapple with the challenge of Washington cutting off foreign aid through its dismantling of USAID.
The developments come as part of a radical change in international policy under Mr Trump, who, during his first months in office, has ruptured the norms of global trade and US soft power.
“You're basically saying, we're taking away our money, we're taking away your ability to raise money,” said Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Centre for Global Development think tank in Washington. “So, it's a double hit, and it's a very unfair double hit.
Mr Trump has framed the levies as a means to reduce the $1.2 trillion US trade deficit. The least developed and small island countries affected by the economic measures represent 1.6 per cent and 0.4 per cent of the deficit, respectively, according to UN Trade and Development.
It's a double hit, and it's a very unfair double hit
Charles Kenny,
Centre for Global Development
Low-income countries typically have higher tariffs to generate government revenue and protect their domestic industries.
But the President has argued these countries have ripped off the US. He alleges that Cambodia “made a fortune with the United States of America” by charging a 97 per cent tariff – which Phnom Penh disputes – and has issued a 40 per cent levy on the country. The average monthly salary in Cambodia will be $905.38 this year, according to Independent Property Services, a real estate company in the South-east Asian nation, and the new US tariffs could push many Cambodians deeper into poverty.
Dozens of the world's poorest countries have been hit with some of the steepest penalties: a 46 per cent duty has been placed on goods from Vietnam, 50 per cent on Lesotho in Africa, 41 per cent on Syria and 37 per cent on Bangladesh. At the same time, a shift in US foreign policy is stripping away foreign aid to the same countries.
Among them is Myanmar, which is recovering from a devastating earthquake that resulted in more than 3,500 deaths and razed critical infrastructure. As Myanmar began the early stages of its recovery efforts, Mr Trump hit Naypyidaw with a 44 per cent tariff.
“Myanmar is in sort of no state to be responding to that kind of thing right now,” Mr Kenny told The National.
Washington has been criticised for its response to the earthquake, sending a team of three to help, as opposed to the more robust US reactions to previous global emergencies.
The State Department said it had made $9 million in assistance available to Myanmar. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has presided over the dismantling of USAID, has defended Washington's response to the earthquake, citing Myanmar's unfriendly junta as a partial reason for the approach.
But Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International and a former political appointee to USAID under presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, said Washington's response sends a “terrible message”.
“That's a terrible reason to say, we're just going to let people in Myanmar die – the fact that we have a political dispute with their government means that their people should be consigned to die crushed under buildings,” he told The National.
Mr Konyndyk, who led USAID's office of Foreign Disaster Assistance from 2013 to 2017, said the agency's dismantling has dramatically reduced Washington's ability to respond to disasters.
“They have fired all the people,” Mr Konyndyk said. “They have cancelled the contracts that would get a Dart [Disaster Assistance Response Team] off the ground.”
Mr Trump's tariffs also represent a change in US policy towards Africa, which used to benefit from congressional legislation enabling sub-Saharan countries to boost economic co-operation and trade with the US. Washington was a significant donor to Lesotho, where gross domestic product reached $2.1 billion in 2023 and which received $44 million from USAID last year.
“The reason these countries need this aid so badly is that they're terribly poor,” Mr Kenny told The National. “The way you make them richer is by them growing through manufacturing and seeing their economies undergo structural transformation. The tariffs are ruining the possibility.”
This comes as the wealth gap between rich and poor nations has widened since the Covid-19 pandemic. A report by the World Bank last year found one in three countries eligible for grants and loans under its International Development Association are now poorer than they were before the pandemic.
Now, the world's poorest countries are at risk of a potential global downturn because of the latest trade wars. Economists at Goldman Sachs this week raised the probability of a US recession from 35 per cent to 45 per cent, warning the economy could weaken further if the tariffs take effect.
“That's going to further undermine the availability of aid because for a lot of countries, they tie their level of aid to share of their overall gross domestic product,” Mr Konyndyk said. “So if their GDP goes down because it's a recession, their aid will also go down, and we're seeing that pressure emerging even before a potential recession hits.”
On racial profiling at airports
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Teaching in coronavirus times
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Coming 2 America
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones
3/5 stars
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
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The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
TOURNAMENT INFO
Opening fixtures:
Friday, Oct 5
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers
Saturday, Oct 6
4pm: Nangarhar Leopards v Kandahar Knights
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Balkh Legends
Tickets
Tickets can be bought online at https://www.q-tickets.com/apl/eventlist and at the ticket office at the stadium.
TV info
The tournament will be broadcast live in the UAE on OSN Sports.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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The Lowdown
Us
Director: Jordan Peele
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseqph, Evan Alex and Elisabeth Moss
Rating: 4/5
