The Trump administration imposed tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners on Friday. They began at 12:01 a.m. EDT as Trump’s temporary 150-day global tariff expired. In-transit goods remain exempt until July 28.
The action covers 99.4% of US imports but excludes oil, gas, fertiliser and certain foods. It restores a near-global tariff floor after the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s 10% to 50% “reciprocal” duties in February.
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Section 301 Provides New Tariff Route
Washington used Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which has survived earlier court challenges.
“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,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said. “Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere.”
Greer said trade-deal tariff caps would still apply.
The 10% rate applies to Argentina, Bangladesh, Britain, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and Tobago.
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For the EU, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland, the duties combine with existing rates to total 10% or 12.5%. Another 38 economies face 12.5%, including China.
Officials aim to restore Trump’s second-term China tariff rate to 20%, agreed with President Xi Jinping in November 2025. China separately faces earlier 25% duties. Washington accuses China of Uyghur forced labour, which Beijing denies.
Countries Protest as Cost Concerns Grow
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said “there is no basis for this tariff against Norway because we already have clear rules that are intended to prevent trade in goods produced using forced labor.”
Australia and Brazil called the tariffs unjustified. Canada faced new duties on $20 billion of goods earlier this week.
“We will continue engaging constructively with the United States on this matter, as well as other outstanding issues, over the coming weeks to the mutual benefit of our citizens,” Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said.
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Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said they “will result in higher costs, negative impacts to businesses and weakened American competitiveness. Nobody can afford this.”
“As expected, the forced labor tariffs largely replicate current tariff levels as negotiated in various reciprocal trade agreements, and replace the 10% tariffs under Section 122 that expire on Friday,” trade lawyer Tim Brightbill said.
A senior official rejected that view. The official said stricter US enforcement disadvantages American firms. Bipartisan lawmakers want forced labour removed from global supply chains, “so we’re really responding to that call,” the official said.
“Once the 301 duties are placed, they have a lot of flexibility to adjust them,” trade lawyer Ryan Majerus said. “It’s a sledgehammer. It’s also intended to keep the …10% baseline in place, and they think they’re well protected when this goes to court.”
Exemptions also cover autos, steel, aluminium and copper already subject to Section 232 tariffs. USMCA-compliant goods remain exempt due to integrated North American supply chains.
