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July 24, 2026
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- Trump tariffs return through Section 301 tariffs after the Supreme Court tariffs ruling blocked the earlier emergency-based duties, introducing new US import tariffs and forced labor tariffs on 60 countries covering nearly 99.4% of US imports
- The new tariff rates range from 10% to 12.5%, with countries facing higher duties if they failed to effectively prohibit or enforce bans on goods made with forced labor
- The administration says the new duties will not stack with existing steel and aluminum tariffs, making Section 301 the legal basis for its latest global trade action
President Donald Trump has once again revived his global tariff scheme, issuing fresh tariffs on 60 countries. Such strategic Trump tariffs have always been a part of a heated debate. The administration’s earlier attempt to impose broad global tariffs under emergency powers was struck down by the Supreme Court, which ruled that the president could not rely on emergency authority to impose sweeping global tariffs. However, in a fresh attempt, Trump has found another legal route to impose tariffs on 60 countries, impacting nearly 99.4% of all US imports by making use of Section 301.
The new Trump tariff takes effect from 12.01 ET on Friday, replacing the temporary 10% global tariff order. The current tariff rates now range between 10% and 12.5%. The White House says the measure is necessary because many trading partners have failed to effectively prohibit or enforce bans on goods produced with forced labour.
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Trump Uses Section 301 After Supreme Court Blocked His Earlier Tariffs
Trump’s administration’s latest ruling on globally imposed duties is based on the Section 301 tariff scheme. This section is a provision of the Trade Act of 1974 that allows the US Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate and impose trade penalties against countries whose policies or practices are deemed harmful, unreasonable, or unfair to US commerce. The earlier Trump tariff strategy was broadly based on a different legal basis. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that Trump could not make use of emergency powers to impose sweeping global tariffs.
The Trump administration must have pondered hard about a new route, bringing the Section 301 tariff agenda into the picture. Before announcing the tariffs, the USTR conducted Section 301 investigations. It concluded that 60 trading partners had failed to effectively prohibit or enforce bans on goods produced with forced labour. The administration is now imposing tariffs because it argues that countries failing to stop goods made with forced labour are engaging in unfair trade practices. It says these practices harm the US commercial sector. This policy is legally distinct from the earlier Supreme Court tariffs that were struck down. It relies on trade law rather than emergency powers.
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New Legal Route Explained
The new legal route using the Section 301 tariff agenda is distinct because it is based on the Trade Act of 1974 instead of emergency powers. The Trump tariff import scheme largely makes use of this narrative. It explains how forced labour tariffs target countries that have failed to prohibit or effectively enforce bans on goods made with forced labour. The administration later argues that the current Trump tariffs and US import tariffs intend to curb unfair trade practices. It also says the move will protect American businesses from foreign competitors benefiting from forced labour.
New Trump Tariffs Cover 99% of US Imports Across 60 Countries
The new US import tariffs apply to the country’s 60 largest trading partners. This represents tariffs on nearly 99.4% of all US imports. Countries that have adopted or committed to stronger forced labour import policies generally face a 10% tariff. Countries that have failed to effectively prohibit or enforce such bans generally face 12.5% duties under the new Section 301 tariff scheme..
Among major economies, countries like India, Mexico, the UK, and Canada will face 10% US tariffs. On the other hand, the European Union, China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Switzerland are subject to an increased Trump tariff of up to 12.5%. The administration later confirmed that these duties will not be added to the existing steel and aluminium tariffs.
