Donald Trump’s administration has imposed a fresh wave of sweeping tariffs to replace a ۱۰% global duty that was set to expire early Friday morning, the latest stage of his aggressive trade policy.
The US will impose between a ۱۰% or ۱۲.۵% tariff on more than ۸۰ countries, Jamieson Greer, the US trade representative announced late on Thursday. The duties would fall under section ۳۰۱ of the Trade Act of ۱۹۷۴, which is aimed against countries that engage in forced labor.
“Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere,” Greer said in a statement. “I am encouraged by the trading partners who have moved quickly to adopt forced labor import prohibitions, and look forward to ensuring their effective enforcement.”
Trump’s tariffs policy suffered a damaging blow in February when the US supreme court ruled that many of those tariffs were illegal. While the US replaced those tariffs with a ۱۰% tariff regime on much of the world, these are due to expire on Friday.
Trump and his officials have claimed his controversial trade agenda will help revitalize US industrial heartlands and boost jobs. But his tariff policies have faced several setbacks since they were first instituted last year, and critics have warned his sweeping tariffs risk increasing prices nationwide.
US inflation surged to a three-year high earlier this year. During a heated exchange before US senators on Wednesday, however, Greer appeared to claim Trump’s policies had not driven prices higher.
Asked by the Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren if the tariffs had increased prices for American families, Greer said: “No.”
“Core inflation fell to ۲.۶% year on year, much better than in January ۲۰۲۵,” he added. Core inflation excludes food and energy. Overall inflation is slightly higher than it was when Joe Biden left office.
More details soon …
