Trump imposes double-digit tariffs on dozens of countries as stopgap 10% levies expire Friday
PBS News Hour – Politics — 2026-07-23 18:04:00 — www.pbs.org
Trump Pushes Ahead with New Tariffs After Supreme Court Defeat, Citing Forced Labor Concerns
President Donald Trump is moving forward with new double-digit tariffs on imports from 60 countries, just as temporary levies he imposed after a Supreme Court setback are set to expire. The administration will impose taxes of 10% to 12.5% on countries that, according to Trump, have failed to adequately enforce bans on goods produced by forced labor.
Trump’s Tariff Strategy and Legal Setbacks
Trump argues that high tariffs will revive American manufacturing. Last year, he overturned decades of U.S. policy favoring lower tariffs and freer trade, invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify broad double-digit tariffs. He claimed that America’s longstanding trade deficit constituted a national emergency. However, the Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA did not authorize tariffs, forcing the administration to refund importers who had paid them.
In response to the court’s decision, Trump announced 10% worldwide tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, but those levies can only be used for 150 days and are now expiring. Trump is now relying on Section 301 of the Trade Act, which allows the president to impose import taxes on countries engaged in “unjustifiable,” “unreasonable,” or “discriminatory” trade practices. He previously used Section 301 to impose tariffs on China, which survived court challenges.
Economic and Political Risks
The new tariffs, which exempt certain products like oil, gas, and fertilizer, as well as goods qualifying for duty-free status under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, will be paid by U.S. companies importing foreign products. These costs are typically passed on to American consumers, who are already frustrated by the high cost of living. The administration is taking a political risk by rolling out new tariffs ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Skepticism and Impact
Human rights advocates acknowledge that the tariffs could pressure countries to address forced labor but caution that blanket tariffs can be blunt instruments. Experts warn that without a comprehensive approach—including transparency in investigations and aid for enforcement—tariffs alone may not be effective. Some countries, such as India, have already amended their trade policies in response to the impending tariffs.
Conclusion
Trump’s tariff policy continues to generate controversy, especially after the Supreme Court’s rejection of his earlier legal justification. While the administration frames the new tariffs as a tool to combat forced labor, critics question both the motivation and the effectiveness of this approach. As the tariffs take effect, their impact on global trade, American consumers, and the fight against forced labor remains to be seen.