# Zambia: Tariffs, Trade & U.S. Exposure Zambia: America imported $322M in goods from Zambia in 2025 (+90.8% in one year) and sold it $111M; the latest U.S. tariff action toward it (2026-02-24) is "IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122", in effect at 10%; it ships 1 essential good finished to American shelves (as of 2026-11-04). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/countries/zm - As of: 2026-11-04 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Country code: ZM - Region: Africa - Capital: Lusaka - Government: presidential republic - Population: 22M - GDP: $26.3B - U.S. imports from Zambia, 2025: $322M - Change in imports in one year: +90.8% - U.S. imports 2026 through September: $770M - U.S. exports to Zambia, 2025: $111M - Trade data source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis) - Tariff treatment: country-specific - Reciprocal tariff assigned under EO 14257 (terminated 2026-02-24): 17% - Section 301: no - Tariff status verified: 2026-02-24 - HTS revision: Revision 9 - Latest tariff action: 2026-02-24: IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122 (in effect) - Essential goods shipped finished to the U.S.: 1 - Supply-map inputs and goods: 5 inputs feeding 3 essential American goods - Coverage: full ## What you buy that Zambia makes: U.S. imports, 2025 | Category | What it is | Value | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Copper | copper for wiring | $249M | 77.4% | | Gem stones, other | | $41M | 12.8% | | Green coffee | green coffee for roasters | $22M | 6.9% | | U.s. goods returned, and reimports | | $5M | 1.7% | | Farming materials, livestock | | $1M | 0.3% | | Tobacco, waxes, etc. | | $738K | 0.2% | | Other foods | | $320K | 0.1% | | Industrial machines, other | | $197K | 0.1% | | Minimum value shipments | | $193K | 0.1% | | Other parts and accessories of vehicles | car parts and accessories | $192K | 0.1% | 2026 so far (through September): $770M in imports. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis). ## What America sells to Zambia: U.S. exports, 2025 | Category | What it is | Value | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Specialized mining | | $30M | 26.8% | | Excavating machinery | | $20M | 18.3% | | Minimum value shipments | | $6M | 5.3% | | Industrial engines | | $6M | 5.2% | | Civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts | | $5M | 4.1% | | Industrial machines, other | | $4M | 4% | | Pulpwood and woodpulp | | $4M | 3.9% | | Jewelry, etc. | jewelry | $4M | 3.4% | | Other parts and accessories of vehicles | car parts and accessories | $3M | 2.5% | ## U.S. tariff posture toward Zambia Zambia was assigned 17% in April 2025, reduced to 15% in August — but the real impact is limited because refined copper, which makes up about 90% of Zambia's exports to the U.S., is exempt from the reciprocal tariff, and copper input materials (cathodes, ores, concentrates) were left out of the separate Section 232 copper tariff that hit only semi-finished copper at 50%. Executive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions, Feb 20, 2026) terminated the IEEPA reciprocal duties, and Proclamation 11012 replaced it with a 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge effective February 24, 2026; the copper exemptions continue. Zambia has no Section 232 steel/aluminum exposure. - Reciprocal tariff assigned under EO 14257: 17%, no longer in force. The Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs and they were terminated February 24, 2026 (EO 14389), replaced by a universal 10% Section 122 surcharge; see the timeline for the current effective rate. ## Tariff status, 4 changes since 2025 - 2026-02-24: IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122 (in effect, 10%). Executive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions) terminated the IEEPA tariff duties effective February 24, 2026, replacing Zambia's 15% reciprocal rate with a 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge under Proclamation 11012 (capped at 150 days); the copper exemptions continue. [91 FR 9437](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03832) - 2025-08-07: Rate reduced to 15% — copper exemptions limit impact (in effect, 15%). Executive Order 14326 set the post-pause Annex I reciprocal rates; Zambia's rate was lowered from 17% to 15% effective August 7, 2025. With refined copper exempt from the reciprocal tariff and copper cathodes/ores excluded from the new Section 232 copper tariff, most of Zambia's export earnings were shielded. [90 FR 37963](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15010) - 2025-04-10: Elevated reciprocal rates paused to 10% for 90 days (in effect, 10%). Executive Order 14266 suspended the higher country-specific reciprocal rates — including Zambia's 17% — back to the 10% baseline for 90 days. [90 FR 15625](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06462) - 2025-04-05: Reciprocal tariff regime begins — Zambia assigned 17% (refined copper exempt) (in effect, 17%). Executive Order 14257 imposed a 10% universal reciprocal duty effective April 5 and a 17% country-specific rate for Zambia scheduled to take effect April 9 — but refined copper, the bulk of Zambia's U.S. exports, was carved out of the reciprocal tariff. [90 FR 15041](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06063) ## What Zambia makes for America - [Coffee](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/coffee) (food): $22M to the U.S. ## The supply chain view Zambia sits upstream of 3 essential American goods through 5 tracked inputs. - [Process Water (Mining)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/process-water-mining) (mineral): 5% share - [Copper ore concentrate](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/copper-ore-concentrate) (mineral): 4% share - [Cobalt Ore (DRC)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/cobalt-ore-drc) (mineral): 2% share - [Electrolytic Copper (Conductor Grade)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/electrolytic-copper) (mineral): 2% share - [Copper cathodes (refined)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/copper-cathodes) (mineral): 2% share ## The country itself Bantu-speaking groups mainly from the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms in the Congo River Basin and from the Great Lakes region in East Africa settled in what is now Zambia beginning around A.D. 300, displacing and mixing with previous population groups in the region. The Mutapa Empire developed after the fall of Great Zimbabwe to the south in the 14th century and ruled the region, including large parts of Zambia, from the 14th to 17th century. The empire collapsed as a result of the growing slave trade and Portuguese incursions in the 16th and 17th centuries. The region was further influenced by migrants from the Zulu Kingdom to the south and the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms to the north, after invading colonial and African powers displaced local residents into the area around the Zambezi River, in what is now Zambia. In the 1880s, British companies began securing mineral and other economic concessions from local leaders. The companies eventually claimed control of the region and incorporated it as the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. The UK took over administrative control from the British South Africa Company in 1924. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred British economic ventures and colonial settlement. Northern Rhodesia’s name was changed to Zambia upon independence from the UK in 1964, under independence leader and first President Kenneth KAUNDA. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, economic mismanagement, and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule and propelled the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) into power. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. Administrative problems marked the election in 2001, with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his death in 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. BANDA and the MMD lost to Michael SATA and the Patriotic Front (PF) in the 2011 general elections. SATA, however, presided over a period of haphazard economic management and attempted to silence opposition to PF policies. SATA died in 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until 2015, when Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and completed SATA's term. LUNGU then won a full term in the 2016 presidential elections. Hakainde HICHILEMA was elected president in 2021. Geography - Location: Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - Area: 752,618 sq km - Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April) - Terrain: mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains - Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower - Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) - Natural hazards: periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April) People and society - Population: 22,021,971 (2025 est.) - Nationality: Zambian(s) - Ethnic groups: Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.) - Languages: Bemba 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.) - Religions: Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.) - Median age: 19 years (2025 est.) - Life expectancy at birth: 66.9 years (2024 est.) - Literacy: 71.1% (2018 est.) Economy - Economic overview: lower-middle-income sub-Saharan economy; regional hydroelectricity producer; trade ties and infrastructure investments from China; IMF assistance to restructure debt burden; one of youngest and fastest-growing labor forces; systemic corruption; extreme rural poverty - Industries: copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture - Agricultural products: sugarcane, cassava, maize, soybeans, milk, vegetables, wheat, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, beef (2023) - Exports - partners: Switzerland 27%, China 15%, India 13%, UAE 12%, DRC 10% (2023) - Imports - partners: South Africa 25%, China 15%, UAE 10%, India 5%, Japan 5% (2023) Government - Government type: presidential republic - Capital: Lusaka - Independence: 24 October 1964 (from the UK) - Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991 - Executive branch: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021) - Legislative branch: National Assembly ## Sources - [91 FR 9437](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/25/2026-03832/ending-certain-tariff-actions) - [90 FR 37963](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/06/2025-15010/further-modifying-the-reciprocal-tariff-rates) - [90 FR 15625](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/15/2025-06462/modifying-reciprocal-tariff-rates-to-reflect-trading-partner-retaliation-and-alignment) - [90 FR 15041](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) - [CIA World Factbook, Zambia](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/) ## Related - [U.S. tariffs by country](https://policyrisk.com/tariffs) - [All countries](https://policyrisk.com/countries) - [Zambia on the supply map](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/country/ZM) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/countries/zm (as of 2026-11-04).