Starting just after midnight ET on Friday, the Trump administration will impose new tariffs on dozens of countries, replacing the temporary 10% global tariffs that are expiring. These new duties will affect 99.4% of U.S. trade and are part of a broader strategy to address forced-labor practices in international trade.
A senior official described this action as the most extensive international labor rights initiative ever undertaken by the U.S. The tariffs will not be cumulative with existing import taxes on steel and aluminum.
This move reflects the administration's renewed commitment to using tariffs as a tool for revenue generation and trade negotiation, despite previous legal challenges to its protectionist policies. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer emphasized the administration's goal of reindustrializing the economy and protecting American workers.
The announcement follows recent tariffs imposed on imports from Brazil and Canada, indicating a trend towards more aggressive trade measures