Trade relations between Kazakhstan and the United States have seen steady growth in recent years. In 2024, total trade reached $4.2 billion, with Kazakh exports to the U.S. growing by 30.6% to $2 billion. Despite this increase, the U.S. does not rank among Kazakhstan’s top export destinations, which are currently Italy, China, Russia, France, and Turkey.

Kazakhstan’s exports to the U.S. are primarily composed of natural resources — including crude oil ($1.1 billion), uranium ($322.9 million), and silver ($239.9 million) — as well as industrial chemicals and metal alloys. These goods are considered vital for the U.S. energy and defense sectors.

In 2025, the U.S. introduced new import tariffs as part of a broader policy to reduce trade imbalances. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade reported that only 4.8% of the country’s exports to the U.S. are affected by these new tariffs. Key commodities such as oil and uranium remain exempt.

Nonetheless, certain chemical and industrial products — including phosphorus, ferrosilicon, lenses, wheat gluten, and ammonium nitrate — now face additional tariffs, impacting about $95.2 million worth of exports.

Economist Anuar Nurtazin argues that while the immediate effect on Kazakhstan’s economy may be minimal, the long-term impact could be more pronounced. Diminished access to the U.S. market might lead to weaker bilateral trade and necessitate a pivot toward alternative markets.

Kazakhstan, he says, could turn this challenge into an opportunity by strengthening trade ties with China, Russia, and Central Asian neighbors. Expanding industrial production and reducing dependence on external markets could offer a path to greater economic resilience.