# Belize: Tariffs, Trade & U.S. Exposure

Belize: America imported $58M in goods from Belize in 2025 (-28.2% in one year) and sold it $625M; the latest U.S. tariff action toward it (2026-04-06) is "Section 232 metals coverage expanded", in effect; it ships 2 essential goods finished to American shelves (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/countries/bz
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Country code: BZ
- Region: Central America N Caribbean
- Capital: Belmopan
- Government: parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- Population: 422K
- GDP: $3.5B
- U.S. imports from Belize, 2025: $58M
- Change in imports in one year: -28.2%
- U.S. imports 2026 through August: $28M
- U.S. exports to Belize, 2025: $625M
- Trade data source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis)
- Tariff treatment: universal baseline, no country-specific action
- Reciprocal tariff (universal baseline): 10%
- Section 301: no
- Tariff status verified: 2026-06-13
- Latest tariff action: 2026-04-06: Section 232 metals coverage expanded (in effect)
- Essential goods shipped finished to the U.S.: 2
- Coverage: data

## What you buy that Belize makes: U.S. imports, 2025

| Category | What it is | Value | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cane and beet sugar | cane and beet sugar | $25M | 42.5% |
| Fish and shellfish | fish, shrimp, shellfish | $15M | 25.9% |
| Tobacco, waxes, etc. |   | $5M | 7.8% |
| Steelmaking materials |   | $3M | 5.1% |
| U.s. goods returned, and reimports |   | $3M | 5% |
| Other foods |   | $2M | 2.9% |
| Fruits, frozen juices | fruit and frozen juices | $2M | 2.9% |
| Lumber | lumber for homebuilding | $1M | 2.4% |
| Cocoa beans | cocoa for chocolate | $814K | 1.4% |
| Other (movies, miscellaneous imports, and special transactions) |   | $325K | 0.6% |

2026 so far (through August): $28M in imports. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis).

## What America sells to Belize: U.S. exports, 2025

| Category | What it is | Value | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Petroleum products, other |   | $90M | 14.4% |
| Fuel oil |   | $59M | 9.4% |
| Minimum value shipments |   | $51M | 8.1% |
| Passenger cars, new and used | new and used cars | $41M | 6.6% |
| Other foods |   | $37M | 5.9% |
| Bakery products |   | $18M | 2.8% |
| Industrial machines, other |   | $16M | 2.5% |
| Toiletries and cosmetics | toiletries and cosmetics | $16M | 2.5% |
| Civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts |   | $15M | 2.4% |

## U.S. tariff posture toward Belize

No U.S. tariff action singles this country out. Its goods face the universal 10% temporary import surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act (which replaced the IEEPA reciprocal baseline in February 2026) plus the sectoral Section 232 duties — steel and aluminum at 50% — that apply to all countries. The Section 122 surcharge is statutorily temporary — scheduled to lapse on or about July 23, 2026 (a 150-day cap) unless extended or replaced.

- Reciprocal tariff (universal baseline): 10%. The universal 10% floor, a Section 122 import surcharge since February 2026, previously the EO 14257 reciprocal baseline, applies to nearly all U.S. imports; this country has no higher assigned rate of its own.

## Tariff status, 6 changes since 2025

- 2026-04-06: Section 232 metals coverage expanded (in effect). The April 2026 proclamation strengthening Section 232 actions on aluminum, steel, and copper expanded derivative-product coverage for all countries, keeping the general metals rate at 50%. [91 FR 18201](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06960)
- 2026-02-24: IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122 surcharge (in effect, 10%). Executive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions) terminated the IEEPA tariff duties — including the EO 14257 reciprocal baseline — effective February 24, 2026. A flat 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge (Proclamation 11012 of February 20, 2026) replaced them, leaving the universal rate unchanged at 10% on a different statutory basis. Section 122 caps such surcharges at 150 days, so this 10% surcharge is scheduled to lapse on or about July 23, 2026 absent further action (the administration has signaled it could raise the rate toward the 15% statutory maximum). [91 FR 9437](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03832)
- 2025-11-13: Agricultural products exempted from reciprocal tariffs (in effect). Executive Order 14360 of November 14, 2025 removed reciprocal duties from certain agricultural products listed in its annexes (coffee, cocoa, bananas, and other goods the U.S. does not produce in sufficient quantity), retroactive to November 13, 2025 — for all countries subject to the reciprocal tariff. [90 FR 54091](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-21203)
- 2025-06-04: Section 232 steel and aluminum duties doubled to 50% (in effect). The June 3, 2025 proclamation raised Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum articles and derivatives from 25% to 50% for all countries, effective June 4, 2025. [90 FR 24199](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10524)
- 2025-04-05: Universal 10% reciprocal baseline takes effect (in effect, 10%). Executive Order 14257 (signed April 2, 2025) imposed a 10% ad valorem reciprocal duty on imports from all trading partners, effective April 5, 2025. Countries without a higher Annex I rate remain at this baseline. [Federal Register 2025-06063](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06063)
- 2025-03-12: Section 232 steel and aluminum duties set at 25% for all countries (in effect). Proclamations of February 10, 2025 terminated all country exemptions and quota arrangements and applied 25% Section 232 duties to steel and aluminum imports from every country, effective March 12, 2025. [90 FR 9817](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02833)

## What Belize makes for America

- [Sugar](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/sugar) (food): $25M to the U.S., 1% of U.S. imports of it
- [Seafood and fish](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/seafood-and-fish) (food): $15M to the U.S.

## The country itself

Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992, and the two countries are still involved in an ongoing border dispute. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high crime rates, high unemployment combined with a majority youth population, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America.

Geography
- Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
- Area: 22,966 sq km
- Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
- Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
- Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
- Coastline: 386 km
- Natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

People and society
- Population: 421,960 (2025 est.)
- Nationality: Belizean(s)
- Ethnic groups: Mestizo 52.9%, Creole 25.9%, Maya 11.3%, Garifuna 6.1%, East Indian 3.9%, Mennonite 3.6%, White 1.2%, Asian 1%, other 1.2%, unknown 0.3% (2010 est.)
- Languages: English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.5% (2010 est.)
- Religions: Roman Catholic 40.1%, Protestant 31.5% (includes Pentecostal 8.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 4.7%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.6%, Methodist 2.9%, Nazarene 2.8%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 10.5% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Church of Jesus Christ, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army), unspecified 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.)
- Median age: 27.2 years (2025 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth: 74.3 years (2024 est.)
- Literacy: 87.9% (2022 est.)

Economy
- Economic overview: tourism- and agriculture-driven economy; strong post-pandemic rebound; innovative and ecological bond restructuring that significantly lowered public debt and expanded marine protections; central bank offering USD-denominated treasury notes; high mobility across borders
- Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil
- Agricultural products: sugarcane, maize, bananas, sorghum, soybeans, chicken, rice, oranges, fruits, plantains (2023)
- Exports - partners: USA 22%, UK 14%, Spain 9%, Guatemala 7%, Portugal 5% (2023)
- Imports - partners: USA 37%, China 17%, Guatemala 10%, Mexico 8%, Costa Rica 6% (2023)

Government
- Government type: parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- Capital: Belmopan
- Independence: 21 September 1981 (from the UK)
- Constitution: previous 1954, 1963 (pre-independence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981
- Executive branch: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021)
- Legislative branch: National Assembly

## Sources
- [91 FR 18201](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/09/2026-06960/strengthening-actions-taken-to-adjust-imports-of-aluminum-steel-and-copper-into-the-united-states)
- [91 FR 9437](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/25/2026-03832/ending-certain-tariff-actions)
- [90 FR 54091](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/25/2025-21203/modifying-the-scope-of-the-reciprocal-tariffs-with-respect-to-certain-agricultural-products)
- [90 FR 24199](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/09/2025-10524/adjusting-imports-of-aluminum-and-steel-into-the-united-states)
- [Universal 10% reciprocal baseline takes effect](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/07/2025-06063/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and)
- [90 FR 9817](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/18/2025-02833/adjusting-imports-of-steel-into-the-united-states)
- [CIA World Factbook, Belize](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/)

## Related
- [U.S. tariffs by country](https://policyrisk.com/tariffs)
- [All countries](https://policyrisk.com/countries)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/countries/bz (as of 2026-11-04).