US Imposes New Tariffs on 60 Nations, Replacing Expiring Trump Duties
The United States announced on Thursday (July 23, 2026) that it will impose new tariffs on 60 trading partners, citing forced labour concerns. These levies replace a global tariff measure introduced by President Donald Trump earlier this year, which is set to expire on Friday (July 24).
The new duties, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, affect major economies including China, India, and the European Union. The action follows a months-long investigation and is intended to be more legally robust than previous tariff measures, which were struck down by the Supreme Court in February.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement: “The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it's well past time for our trading partners to do the same.”
The tariffs take effect immediately and apply different rates based on whether trading partners have implemented their own forced labour prohibitions. Countries such as Canada, the EU, and the United Kingdom face the lower 10% rate. Others, including China and Japan, will be subject to a 12.5% tariff.
Goods already covered by sector-specific tariffs—such as steel and aluminium—are exempt, as are products entering under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
The move comes after the Trump administration faced legal setbacks that invalidated earlier tariff actions. By using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, officials aim to create more durable measures. Trade experts say the approach maintains leverage over trading partners while incentivising compliance with trade pacts.
Separately, the US is investigating 16 economies over excess industrial capacity, which could lead to additional duties. This week, Washington also imposed a 25% tariff on Brazilian goods and announced 50% tariffs on certain Canadian products, citing unfair trade practices.
Analysts suggest the new tariffs signal a more protectionist stance from the world's largest economy, with legal challenges expected to be more difficult due to the investigation-based foundation of the measures.
