Key Takeaways Washington has introduced country-specific tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on 60 nations, replacing the previous blanket 10% levy These duties invoke Section 301 of the 1974 T
Washington has rolled out a fresh wave of import duties targeting 60 nations worldwide, substituting a temporary universal 10% levy that lapsed in the early hours of Friday. The updated rates—either 10% or 12.5%—became operational at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday.
BREAKING: Trump hits 60 countries with new tariffs covering 99% of all U.S. imports.
Under the new tariffs:
– Duties of 10% to 12.5% take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday as his temporary 10% global tariff expires.
– 38 countries face the full 12.5%, 17 face 10%, and 5 face… pic.twitter.com/wggGqiUTBW
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This action encompasses 99.4% of total US imports. Official confirmation came through a Federal Register filing published late Thursday evening.
The administration is leveraging Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 as its legal foundation. Officials cite inadequate enforcement of forced labor prohibitions by international trading partners as justification.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer framed the measure as addressing human rights. “Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice,” he stated.
The tariff list encompasses China, Vietnam, Australia, Canada, and European Union member states. China alongside 37 additional nations received the elevated 12.5% assessment.
The European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Switzerland were allocated rates designed to achieve total tariff loads of either 10% or 12.5% when layered with pre-existing charges.
India experienced a reduction from 12.5% down to 10%. Administration officials credited this adjustment to constructive measures India implemented regarding forced labor concerns.
Nations including Australia, Brazil, and Norway have already voiced opposition, characterizing the tariffs as unfounded. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas argued the forced labor justification “does not make sense” considering Europe’s robust worker safeguards.
Multiple merchandise categories remain outside the new tariff framework. These encompass petroleum and natural gas, fertilizer products, aviation equipment and components, strategic minerals, and select agricultural commodities.
Items previously subjected to national security-based tariffs—including steel, aluminum, automobiles, and copper—will avoid supplementary levies. Merchandise meeting United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement standards continues to enjoy largely duty-free status.
The official documentation spans hundreds of pages detailing product carve-outs. Approximately 471 items were incorporated into the exclusion roster compared to preliminary versions.
Legal experts consider the new Section 301 tariffs more defensible in court than the levies invalidated by the Supreme Court in February. Trade attorneys note Section 301 has withstood previous judicial scrutiny, complicating potential challenges.
Research from the Yale Budget Lab calculates the present US effective tariff rate at roughly 11.8%. The latest duties are projected to increase that figure by one to two percentage points.
Administration representatives have indicated plans to restore Chinese tariffs to 20%, matching the threshold established in a November 2025 trade agreement with Beijing. Supplementary tariffs connected to an excess structural capacity inquiry—targeting China, the EU, and 16 other jurisdictions—are anticipated before year’s end.
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