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Forced-labor tariffs begin
The Trump administration announced tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 U.S. trading partners, replacing a temporary 10% tariff that expires at midnight eastern time.
“The Trump administration imposes new tariffs on imports from about 60 trading partners, claiming they failed to adequately curb forced labor”
The new duties take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday morning, with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office saying the 60 economies have failed “to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor.”
CBS News said most of the trading partners will face 12.5% tariffs, while a lower 10% rate will apply to 17 countries that have some prohibitions on forced labor, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico.
The Hill reported that the tariffs are being brought under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and will go into effect at midnight Friday, replacing tariffs imposed under Section 122 earlier this year that were set to expire.
NBC News said the wave of levies will be enacted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and that the Supreme Court struck down most of Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act earlier this year.
Greer and rivals respond
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said, “The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” as the administration framed the tariffs as an enforcement action.
CBS News quoted a senior administration official describing the measure as "the most sweeping international labor rights action the United States has ever taken, that any country has ever taken."
The BBC reported that the White House said the tariffs would take effect immediately and that the statement invoked Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act to address practices that harm or restrict U.S. trade.
NPR said the United States will slap taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, charging that they have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labor.
The Peterson Institute for International Economics warned that the tariffs “would represent another case of presidential overreach” and argued the Supreme Court would likely overturn them if challenged in court.
What’s at stake next
The Hill said the tariffs are part of an effort to push trading partners to eliminate forced labor from the global supply chain, with 10% tariffs for countries that have made commitments and 12.5% for those that have not enacted a forced labor import prohibition.
“Thursday, July 23, 2026, 7:28 p”
CBS News reported that the forced labor duties mark the latest attempt by President Trump to resurrect his global system of tariffs after a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year struck down most of his country-by-country tariffs, and it said the administration is conducting several other Section 301 investigations that could lead to more tariffs.
NBC News said the new duties include exemptions on fertilizers and some types of fuel, as well as some foods, autos, some types of metals and pharmaceuticals, and it noted that the tariffs will not stack on top of existing import taxes on steel and aluminum under Section 232.
USA Today reported that the administration is in the midst of refunding $166 billion to companies that paid tariffs later ruled illegal, and it said Customs and Border Protection processed about $85 billion worth of refunds through May.
The BBC said the U.S. Trade Representative is currently investigating 16 countries for alleged overcapacity, which could pave the way for additional tariffs later this year, as business groups and affected countries are expected to resist.
