Trump Administration Imposes Forced-Labor Tariffs On 60 Trading Partners
President Trump announced on Thursday, July 23, 2026, that his administration will impose tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2026.[1]
The levies apply to imports from 60 countries that together account for about 99% of U.S. imports.[1] Countries that have enacted or pledged forced-labor import bans — including Bangladesh, Canada, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom — will face 10%; other partners will face 12.5%.[2] Exemptions cover oil, gas and fertilizer, along with goods qualifying for duty-free treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and U.S. importers are legally liable for the duties.[3] Some countries that were slated for 12.5% rates, including India, saw those planned rates cut after tightening forced-labor enforcement.[1] U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer called the action the most sweeping international labor-rights move and said it will correct a "distortive trade practice" tied to forced labor.[2]
In February 2026 the Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not authorize the administration's earlier global emergency tariffs.[3] That decision produced a temporary 10% global tariff under Section 122 that lasts 150 days and expires at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2026, prompting the administration to use Section 301 instead.[3] The Trade Representative's office has also opened a separate Section 301 investigation into alleged overproduction by 16 countries that account for about 70% of U.S. imports, with additional tariffs possible.[3]
Initial coverage framed the move mainly as an economic and enforcement step, focused on import rules and forced-labor compliance.[1] Later reporting has emphasized the labor-rights framing and highlighted Greer's claim that the action is sweeping.[2] Those reports also noted a Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimate that the tariffs could generate roughly $900 billion in federal revenue through 2036.[2]
Show source details & analysis (5 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- President Trump confirmed on Thursday, July 23, 2026, that new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% will apply to imports from 60 countries that together account for about 99% of U.S. imports and will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2026; see details on the affected "60 countries" (NPR). 60 countries
- The administration is using "Section 301" of the Trade Act of 1974 as the legal basis for the tariffs after the Supreme Court’s February 2026 ruling that IEEPA did not authorize earlier global emergency tariffs and the 150‑day Section 122 10% stopgap expires on July 24, 2026. Section 301
- The tariffs exempt imports of "oil, gas, fertilizer" and products qualifying for duty-free treatment under the USMCA, and the administration notes the duties are paid by U.S. importers (who typically seek to pass costs to consumers). oil, gas, fertilizer
- Countries that have enacted or committed to forced‑labor import prohibitions — including Bangladesh, Canada, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom — will face 10% tariffs while others face 12.5%, and some partners (for example, India) saw planned rates cut after tightening enforcement. Bangladesh, Canada, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom
- U.S. Trade Representative "Jamieson Greer" characterized the action as the most sweeping international labor‑rights measure and said it aims to correct a 'distortive trade practice' tied to forced labor. Jamieson Greer
- The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has opened a separate "Section 301 investigation" into alleged overproduction by 16 countries that together account for about 70% of U.S. imports, with additional tariffs possible but not yet decided. Section 301 investigation
- The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the new tariffs could generate roughly $900 billion in federal revenue through 2036 if they remain in place, providing a long‑term budgetary context for the policy. Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
- During a July 23 briefing, "senior officials" denied the new Section 301 tariffs were merely a substitute for the expiring 150‑day global 10% levy and said the administration has emphasized forced‑labor enforcement since Trump's first term, though human‑rights groups urged skepticism about motives. senior officials
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Thursday, July 23, 2026, the White House described the new Section 301 tariffs as applying to 'the United States’ top 60 trading partners,' which officials allege are violating forced‑labor laws, closely aligning the list with countries that make up nearly all U.S. import volume.
- Countries that have enacted or committed to enact forced‑labor import prohibitions, including Bangladesh, Canada, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom, will face 10% tariffs, while those that have not made such commitments will face 12.5% tariffs.
- A senior administration official told reporters July 23 that some countries initially slated for the 12.5% rate have already moved down to 10% after adopting forced‑labor prohibitions or strengthening enforcement, highlighting that tariff levels can adjust as partners change their laws and practices.
- U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer characterized the action as 'the most sweeping international labor rights action' taken by any country, arguing it will correct a 'distortive trade practice' tied to forced labor.
- The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the new tariffs could generate roughly $900 billion in federal revenue through 2036 if they remain in effect, adding long‑term budget context not previously reported.
- During a July 23 briefing, senior officials denied that the new Section 301 tariffs were simply a substitute for the expiring 150‑day global 10% tariff, instead asserting that Trump has focused on forced‑labor enforcement since his first term.
- CBS News aired a 7:00 p.m. Central TV segment on July 23, 2026, presenting the tariff move as targeting 'dozens of countries accused of failing to crack down on forced labor.'
- On Thursday, July 23, 2026, President Trump confirmed that new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2026, just as temporary 10% global Section 122 tariffs expire.
- The administration framed the tariffs explicitly as a response to inadequate foreign enforcement of bans on forced-labor-produced goods, with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calling them a way to correct both a human-rights abuse and a distortive trade practice.
- A senior administration official said some countries that tightened forced-labor enforcement since the plan was floated last month, such as India, saw their planned tariff rate cut from 12.5% to 10%.
- The article confirms that imports of oil, gas, fertilizer, and products qualifying for duty-free treatment under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be exempt from the new Section 301 tariffs.
- The story situates the move in the legal sequence after the Supreme Court's February 2026 ruling that IEEPA did not authorize Trump's earlier global emergency tariffs, forcing refunds and prompting a temporary 10% global tariff under Section 122 that is limited to 150 days and expires July 24, 2026.
- The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has opened a separate Section 301 investigation into alleged overproduction by 16 countries that together account for about 70% of U.S. imports, with additional tariffs likely but not yet decided.
- NPR/AP piece confirms the tariffs will apply to imports from 60 countries accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, with rates between 10% and 12.5%, and that they take effect as the temporary 10% global Section 122 tariffs expire at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2026.
- The article restates that the legal basis is Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and places the move explicitly in sequence after the Supreme Court’s February 2026 decision striking down Trump’s IEEPA-based global tariffs and the subsequent 150‑day Section 122 stopgap.
- It reports that some countries have recently tightened forced-labor enforcement and therefore qualified for lower tariff rates, citing India as an example whose planned rate was reduced from 12.5% to 10%.
- The article specifies exemptions for oil, gas, fertilizer and products qualifying for duty-free treatment under the USMCA, while stressing that tariffs are paid by U.S. importers, who typically seek to pass costs on to consumers.
- It notes that human-rights groups say it is reasonable to be skeptical of the tariffs’ motivations, while acknowledging the underlying issue of forced labor, adding a rights-focused context to the existing economic and trade framing.