The administration imposed new tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners to address forced labor practices and restore a global trade regime.
The administration announced new tariffs on Friday, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, on imports from 60 trading partners. These levies aim to address forced labor practices and restore a broad global tariff regime that was previously struck down by the Supreme Court. While the new duties are unlikely to cause significant price hikes for consumers immediately, they represent a key step in rebuilding the trade agenda. The new tariffs were implemented under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. However, the Liberty Justice Center quickly filed a lawsuit arguing that the administration is using Section 301 as a pretext to recreate the same global tariff policy that the court previously ruled was not authorized by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In addition to these new levies, the administration launched a Section 301 investigation into the European Union to retaliate against fines imposed on U.S. tech giants. The administration also invoked Section 338 of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act to threaten 50% tariffs on certain Canadian goods.