Trade and Development Chart: Pre-tariff surge benefits developing countries

Low-income countries saw the largest increases in shipments to the US as American buyers stockpiled imported goods to beat an increase in tariffs.

US imports surged in the first quarter of 2025 as businesses tried to beat expected increases in tariffs. Low-income countries saw the largest increases in shipments to the US. Among them was the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a 2,322 percent surge in exports, led by copper cathodes, a highly refined form of copper used for electrical wiring and other products. Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Vietnam also experienced big increases.