Donald Trump Imposes New Tariffs on Canada, Brazil and 60 Economies

President Donald Trump implemented a series of new tariffs to maintain a trade wall after the Supreme Court of the United States invalidated previous import duties. Utilizing Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the administration imposed duties between 10% and 12.5% on imports from approximately 60 economies, alleging those nations fail to enforce bans on goods produced with forced labor.

Specific trade actions include 25% tariffs on imports from Brazil, with exemptions for beef and coffee. Following the collapse of trade talks in late August, the White House applied 50% levies on Canadian beer, furniture, and apparel under Section 338 of the US Tariff Act of 1930. Additionally, the administration introduced levies up to 100% on certain patented pharmaceutical products as of July 31, though companies that agreed to lower drug prices were exempt.

The United States Trade Representative is currently investigating the European Union and 15 other countries regarding structural excess manufacturing capacity. Jamieson Greer described the overcapacity investigation as an intense project, noting that dozens of attorneys and policymakers are examining these practices.