Key Country Wooed by China, Russia Responds to New Trump Tariffs

Miami Herald

10-07-2025

Kazakhstan, whose close ties with Russia and China have made it a significant regional player in Central Asia, has said it is ready to reach a compromise with the Trump administration over tariffs due to take effect next month.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent a letter to Trump expressing a hope for a "rational solution to trade issues," according to Russian state media outlet TASS.
Trump's tariffs on countries which are aimed at what the U.S. president has said would rebalance trade, include 25 percent levies on Kazakhstan, whose natural resources are critical for both its neighbors, Russia and China.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment
A former Soviet republic, Kazakhstan still has a close relationship with Moscow although its president, Tokayev has notably not backedVladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and signaled a pivot toward Beijing.
China is eager to buy the huge amounts of nickel, copper, lithium and other so-called critical minerals in Kazakhstan for its electric vehicles and batteries. Moscow in turn has asked Kazakhstan to supply the country with gasoline in case of shortages caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy facilities.
Takayev's comments show he seeks to strike a favorable deal with the U.S. that rivals both China and Russia.
Trump this week published letters on his Truth Social account about duties on goods coming into the U.S. from other countries in a policy he says would rebalance trade.
Kazakhstan was among the first countries whose letters he addressed with tariffs on goods entering the U.S. from the country set at 25 percent from August 1.
This is lower than many countries, but Trump's comments have hinted that negotiations over this next three weeks could change matters.
Tokayev said in a statement he was ready for "a constructive dialogue" to develop a rational solution to trade issues and was confident of a "compromise on the trade problem."
Tokayev also said Astana views Washington an important trade and investment partner and wanted "fair, predictable, mutually beneficial trade ties."
Last year, there was $4.2 billion worth of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the U.S. and between January and May 2025, $1.26 billion, including exports of $418.2 million.
Astana has said that duties will not affect 95 percent of Kazakhstan's exports to the United States, including oil, uranium, silver, metal alloys, tantalum, and titanium 7.
A statement by the press service of Kazakhstan president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev "confirmed our country's readiness to continue a constructive dialogue in order to develop a rational solution to trade issues and expressed confidence in reaching a compromise on the trade problem."
Trump has warned that if any country introduces retaliatory duties, Washington would increase its tariff rates. Tokayev's comments suggest that like other countries, Kazakhstan will seek to get a deal with the U.S. over the line in the next three weeks.
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