Key facts
- The U.S. has imposed new tariffs on over 80 countries, ranging from 10% to 12.5%.
- These tariffs replace a 10% global duty that expired.
- The administration's stated reason for the new tariffs is to combat forced labor practices.
- Jamieson Greer, President Trump's top trade negotiator, defended the policy to the Senate.
- Several trading partners, including the UK, Mexico, Canada, Australia, India, and EU nations, are affected.
President Donald Trump's administration has imposed a fresh round of tariffs on more than 80 countries, with rates ranging from 10% to 12.5%. These new levies replace a 10% global duty that expired, and the administration, through its top trade negotiator Jamieson Greer, has cited the need to address forced labor practices as the justification.
Greer informed the Senate that the U.S. remains committed to its tariff strategy, even as the previous blanket 10% tariff, enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, concluded. The Supreme Court had previously ruled against earlier tariffs, prompting the administration to utilize different legal avenues, including Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which targets countries engaging in forced labor.
Trading partners have reacted with criticism and calls for clarification. Australia and Brazil described the new tariffs as unjustified, while the EU sought further information, viewing the move as a shock. Canada suggested that a coordinated multilateral approach would be more effective in addressing forced labor than unilateral tariffs.