Overview
- The White House finalized tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 countries that will take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday as the temporary 10% global levy expires.
- Rates are tiered so countries judged to have adequate anti‑forced‑labor laws face the lower 10% charge while those deemed inadequate face 12.5%, and several nations lowered their rate after passing new measures.
- The duties are being imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's earlier IEEPA-based levies and a temporary Section 122 tariff that was due to lapse.
- Separate, higher actions are already in play: a 25% tariff on many Brazilian goods took effect July 22 and up to 50% tariffs on certain Canadian products were announced this week, producing layoffs and export losses in affected sectors such as Brazil’s footwear industry.
- The measures carry broad product carve‑outs for items like oil, gas, fertilizer, USMCA-eligible goods and products already covered by Section 232, but economists and exporters warn the wave of duties will deepen supply‑chain uncertainty, raise costs for U.S. importers and risk diplomatic or trade retaliation while more Section 301 probes remain under way.