Last year, the top Lithuanian-made products imported by the United States included various oils, reagents used for determining blood groups, writing desks and other wooden furniture. Some of these popular goods are exempt from new tariffs.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced a major shift in American trade policy: a baseline tariff of 10% will be applied to all imports, with even higher rates for most countries. For example, products from the European Union will be subject to a 20% tariff.
The changes are set to come into force on April 5. However, a 37-page list of tariff-exempt goods was also published, covering items in electronics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, energy, and other sectors.
According to Lithuania’s State Data Agency, exports of Lithuanian-origin goods to the US totalled €1.671 billion in 2024, making the US Lithuania’s fifth-largest export partner.
Nearly 27.4% of Lithuanian exports to the US (€457.6 million) consisted of petroleum-based oils, such as white spirit and various motor, compressor, and turbine oils.
Under an annex to President Trump’s executive order, products in this category are exempt from the new tariffs – at least partially – meaning they may continue entering the US market tariff-free.
The second-largest export category, valued at €262.9 million (15.7% of Lithuanian-origin exports to the US), was diagnostic or laboratory reagents, such as those used to determine blood types. These items are not exempt from the new tariffs, according to the Trump administration.
Furniture ranked third, with exports reaching €154.8 million, or 9.27% of Lithuanian exports to the US.
Fourth on the list were nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilisers, totalling €88 million (5.27%). These are also exempt from the new tariffs.
In fifth place were Lithuanian-made nails, including flat-headed and grooved nails, thumbtacks, and fasteners, with €67.6 million in exports, accounting for 4% of the total.
Also in the top 10 were certain enzymes (€53.6 million), construction materials made from plastic (€43 million), human and animal blood (€34.73 million), lasers (€33.3 million), and specific chemical preparations (€31 million).
Together, these items represented 11.7% of Lithuanian-origin exports to the US last year. Exemptions apply to blood and chemical products under the new tariff policy.
Lithuanian economists estimate that the new US tariffs could shrink the country’s economy by around 0.5% over the next few years.
In response, the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation has unveiled a €20 million business support plan, which includes consultation services to help companies explore new markets.
According to the ministry, 1,041 Lithuanian companies currently export goods to the United States.
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