The Trump administration is moving forward with a new wave of tariffs on more than 80 countries, replacing a temporary global duty that was set to expire and extending the president’s aggressive approach to international trade.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced late Thursday that the administration would impose tariffs of either 10% or 12.5% on a broad list of countries. The duties are being issued under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a law that allows the United States to respond to unfair foreign trade practices.
According to Greer, the new tariffs are aimed at countries accused of allowing or benefiting from forced labor in supply chains. He described the action as both a human-rights measure and a trade enforcement step, arguing that forced labor harms workers while distorting competition for companies that follow labor standards.
“Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice,” Greer said in a statement.
TRENDING TODAY
The announcement comes after a difficult stretch for Trump’s tariff agenda. Earlier this year, the administration suffered a major setback when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that many of its previous tariffs were illegal. The White House then replaced those measures with a temporary 10% duty on much of the world, but that policy was scheduled to expire Friday.
The new tariffs appear designed to keep pressure on trading partners while grounding the policy in a different legal framework. By using Section 301 and focusing on forced labor, the administration is attempting to frame the duties not only as economic protection but also as enforcement against abusive labor practices abroad.
Trump has long argued that tariffs can revive American manufacturing, protect domestic workers and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. His administration says the policy will encourage companies to bring production back to the United States while penalizing countries that compete through lower labor standards.
Critics see the issue differently. Economists, importers and some lawmakers have warned that broad tariffs often operate like a tax on consumers and businesses. Companies that pay higher import costs may pass those costs on through higher prices, potentially adding pressure on families already dealing with expensive food, housing, energy and household goods.
The tariff debate has become especially sensitive because inflation has remained a major political issue. U.S. inflation reportedly climbed to a three-year high earlier this year, although Trump officials argue that core inflation — which excludes food and energy — has improved since January 2025.
During a Senate exchange this week, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed Greer on whether Trump’s tariffs had increased costs for American families. Greer rejected that argument and pointed to lower core inflation as evidence that the administration’s trade policy had not fueled consumer price increases.
That answer is unlikely to end the dispute. Overall inflation remains slightly higher than when President Joe Biden left office, and many households judge the economy by everyday costs rather than core inflation figures. If importers raise prices in response to the new duties, the political pressure on the administration could intensify.
The international response will also be important. Some countries may attempt to negotiate exemptions or demonstrate stronger forced-labor enforcement to avoid higher duties. Others could retaliate with tariffs of their own, raising the risk of another round of trade disputes affecting U.S. exporters, farmers and manufacturers.
The administration says it is encouraged by countries that have moved to adopt forced-labor import restrictions and wants to ensure those rules are properly enforced. But applying tariffs to more than 80 countries at once creates practical challenges, including how the U.S. will judge compliance, which products will be affected and how quickly businesses will need to adjust.
For American companies, the immediate uncertainty may be just as important as the tariff rate itself. Businesses that import parts, materials or finished goods need to know whether costs will rise, whether supply chains must be changed and whether future court challenges could alter the policy again.
Why It Matters
The new tariffs could affect prices, supply chains and trade relationships across a wide range of industries. Even if the administration frames the policy as a response to forced labor, companies and consumers may still feel the cost through higher import prices.
The move also shows that Trump is not retreating from tariffs despite legal setbacks and criticism over inflation. Instead, the administration is trying to rebuild its trade strategy under a new legal justification.
What Comes Next
More details are expected on which countries and products will be covered by the 10% and 12.5% tariff levels. Businesses will watch closely for exemptions, enforcement guidance and possible retaliation from U.S. trading partners.
Legal challenges are also possible, especially if companies or foreign governments argue that the administration is using forced-labor authority too broadly. Congress may also face renewed pressure to examine how far the White House can go in imposing tariffs without new legislation.
The Trump administration announced a new wave of tariffs on more than 80 countries after a previous global duty expired.
The Trump administration announced it will set tariffs on over 80 countries on Friday, a new effort to uphold a policy that courts have repeatedly invalidated. More duties are likely to be on the way in the coming weeks. https://t.co/qC8HrMoJml
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 23, 2026
