President Donald Trump is imposing reciprocal tariffs on many countries that export tires to the United States.
Seven out of the 10 biggest exporters of passenger tires to the U.S. in 2024 – Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Cambodia and Malaysia – will be subject to reciprocal tariffs, according to information published in the Federal Register.
Specific countries and reciprocal rates listed include Thailand (37%), Indonesia (32%), Vietnam (46%), South Korea (26%), Japan (24%), Cambodia (49%) and Malaysia (24%). (Editor's note: These - and other rates listed in this story - are as of today.)
Other “top 10” exporters of passenger tires to the U.S. - Mexico, Canada and Chile – were not listed.
Passenger tire data
Thailand was the biggest exporter of passenger tires to the U.S. last year, shipping an estimated 35.3 million units, a year-over-year increase of 16.4%, according to MTD’s 2025 Facts Issue.
Mexico was the second-largest exporter of passenger tires to the U.S. market last year, shipping 22.6 million units, a 6% jump from 2023 levels.
Indonesia was the third-biggest passenger tire exporter to the U.S., shipping 13.7 million units, a 17% year-over-year decrease.
Vietnam emerged as the fourth-largest passenger tire exporter to the U.S., shipping 12.8 million units, a year-over-year increase of 26.9%.
South Korea shipped 12.2 million passenger tires to the U.S., exporting 12.2 million units, nearly 17% less than in 2023.
Rounding out the rest of the 10 largest exporters of tires to the U.S. in 2024 were:
6. Canada (10 million units, a 3.7% year-over-year increase)
7. Japan (nine million units, a 5.6% year-over-year decline)
8. Chile (5.2 million units, down 11.3% year-over-year)
9. Cambodia (4.8 million units, a year-over-year increase of 224.7%)
10. Malaysia (four million units, a decrease of 2% from prior-year levels.)
Consumer tire exporters
The 10 biggest exporters of consumer (passenger and light truck combined) tires to the U.S. last year, according to MTD’s 2025 Facts Issue, were, in descending order:
1. Thailand (41 million units, a 11.6% year-over-year increase)
2. Mexico (24.4 million units, a year-over-year increase of around 800,000 units)
3. Vietnam (16.7 million tires, 10.2% more than in 2023)
4. Indonesia (15.4 million, down 18% year-over-year)
5. Canada (14.3 million tires, down around 900,000 units versus 2023)
6. South Korea (13.9 million units, down 17.7% year-over-year)
7. Japan (11.3 million units, down 7.5% year-over-year)
8. Cambodia (6.6 million tires, up 218.1% year from 2023)
9. Chile (5.9 million units, down 8.4% year-over-year)
10. Philippines (five million tires, a year-over-year decline of 15.3%)
The Philippines will be subject to a reciprocal tariff of 18%.
TBR tire exporters
According to MTD’s 2025 Facts Issue, the 10 largest TBR tire exporters to the U.S. in 2024 were, in descending order:
1. Thailand (6.6 million units, down 33.6% from 2023 levels)
2. Japan (2.2 million tires, down 12.9% year-over-year)
3. Vietnam (two million units, down 31.9% year-over-year)
4. Canada (1.4 million units, down 4.3% from 2023)
5. China (one million units, down 40.6% year-over-year)
6. South Korea (700,000 tires, down 36.1% from prior-year levels)
7. Spain (400,000 units, a 15.2% decrease from 2023)
8. India (400,000 units, down 42.3% year-over-year)
9. Brazil (300,000 tires, a 24.9% decline from 2023 levels)
10. Germany (200,000 units, down 24% year-over-year)
According to numbers listed in the Federal Register, China will be subject to a reciprocal tariff rate of 34% and India will be subject to a reciprocal tariff of 27%. The European Union, of which Germany is a member, will be subject to tariffs of 20%. Brazil did not appear on the list.
For more MTD tariff coverage, click on:
Trump Tariffs Will Apply to Tires
Will Trump Tariffs Impact Freight Rates?
Trump Tariff Situation ‘Fluid,’ Says TIA
Tariffs Will Hurt Aftermarket, Consumers, Says Hanvey
Trump Tariffs: A Look at the Numbers
Plenty of Tariff Tools at Trump’s Disposal
Freight Rates Expected to Increase
Trump to Impose Tariffs on Mexico, Canada
What a Second Trump Presidency Means For Tire Dealers
Stay tuned to www.moderntiredealer.com for ongoing coverage.
