Trump Imposes Tariffs on 60 Countries via Trade Act

President Donald Trump implemented a new round of tariffs ranging from 10 percent to 12.5 percent on imports from 60 countries. The administration cited failures by these nations to enforce forced-labor bans as the primary justification for the duties. These tariffs cover 99.4 percent of U.S. imports and replace a temporary global tariff that expired on July 24.

This move represents a shift in legal approach, utilizing Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to create a more durable legal footing. The change follows a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States, which determined that the emergency law used for the previous Liberation Day tariffs exceeded presidential authority.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer informed the Senate Finance Committee that while the legal authorities have changed, the administration's trade strategy remains the same. The government plans further actions targeting intellectual property theft and excess industrial capacity, specifically affecting 16 major trading partners including Vietnam, China, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union. Despite these targets, the administration is maintaining negotiated tariff caps for the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and China.