The Trump administration will impose new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners, including the European Union, taking effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Friday (0401 GMT) — the exact moment a temporary 10% global tariff expires — citing lax enforcement of forced-labor bans. The measures, announced in a Federal Register notice, are presented as a human-rights and trade-enforcement step while replacing the expiring temporary levy.
Implemented under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the duties are designed to establish a tariff floor on nearly all U.S. imports despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s February decision that struck down last year’s “reciprocal” duties of 10%–50% imposed under a national emergencies law. The Administration says Section 301 is less vulnerable to legal challenge than the struck-down measures.
The new tariffs will cover about 99.4% of U.S. imports but include numerous product exemptions, such as oil and gas, fertilizer and certain food items. Goods already subject to Section 232 national security tariffs — including autos, steel, aluminum and copper — and items compliant with the US‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement will also be exempted. Shipments already in transit are excused until 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 28.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said: “The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it. It’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” adding that the action aims to correct “what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice.”
Under the final determination, Argentina, Bangladesh, Britain, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago face the 10% duty. The European Union, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland were assigned rates that, when combined with existing most‑favoured‑nation tariffs, would total 10% or 12.5%. The remaining 38 countries, including China, were assigned the higher 12.5% rate.
Trade lawyers note the new levies largely mirror previously negotiated tariff levels. Tim Brightbill of Wiley Rein said the forced‑labor tariffs “largely replicate current tariff levels” and replace the expiring Section 122 duties. A senior administration official rejected the view that the move is merely a direct replacement, saying the U.S. enforces forced‑labor bans more strictly than other countries and is responding to bipartisan calls to remove forced labour from global supply chains. After public hearings, the USTR also added further exemptions, including for pig iron, certain sugar products, animal and seed products and some chemicals.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-imposes-new-tariffs-on-60-countries-over-forced-labour-concerns-11813910#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-07-24 06:36:00
