Lukashenko questions Trump's tariff decision as economically illogical

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has criticised US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs, describing it as economically illogical.

Speaking on the matter, Lukashenko suggested that the move may not be as straightforward as it appears, particularly from an economic perspective, Caliber.Az reports, citing Belarusian media.

Lukashenko stated, “Do you really believe that this is how things will stand, as Donald has declared? Just yesterday, he said he was ready to negotiate with China or anyone else to strike a deal on tariffs. This shows they are willing to back down.”

He continued, “It seems that Trump initially miscalculated, and now he’s reconsidering his position. Maybe he needs to assess the situation more carefully before making further decisions. From an economic standpoint, his decision seems illogical."

Lukashenko noted that, while the US economy remains one of the world’s largest and holds a significant share of global GDP, this does not guarantee its stability amid tariff hikes on imports from numerous countries.

“Trump has effectively declared war on 75% of the world’s GDP, including Japan, the European Union, and others. He claims, ‘We’ll manage.’ Maybe they will, but they will have to produce enough goods for 300 million people, and they print dollars. But that’s today – what happens tomorrow?” the Belarusian president questioned.

The remarks underline the growing concerns regarding the global economic impact of trade restrictions and tariff policies.

Note that, President Trump’s recent tariff policies, implemented in April 2025, aim to reduce trade imbalances and protect U.S. industries. A 10% across-the-board tariff was introduced, with additional duties on countries like China and Vietnam.

However, economists, including JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon, warn that these tariffs could harm economic growth, disrupt supply chains, and increase consumer prices. Research also shows that tariffs generally lead to reduced economic output and higher unemployment.

Political reactions have been mixed, with critics arguing that the measures might harm long-term international relations. Economist Brent Neiman expressed concern over the misuse of his research to justify the tariffs.

By Aghakazim Guliyev