President Donald Trump announced that the United States will impose new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners, effective Friday, as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs expire at 12:01 a.m. The administration said the tariffs are intended to address inadequate enforcement of forced‑labor bans under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a provision that permits import taxes on countries engaged in “unjustifiable,” “unreasonable” or “discriminatory” trade practices. The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not authorize the previous tariffs, and it comes after the administration concluded a Section 301 investigation into overproduction by 16 countries that account for 70% of U.S. imports, a probe that remains unfinished.

The new tariffs cover roughly 99% of U.S. imports. Countries such as India will see a reduced rate of 10% after adjustments, while products including oil, gas, fertilizer and items covered by the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement are exempt. The administration has not completed the overproduction investigation and indicated that additional Section 301 actions may be taken.

Congressional leaders criticized the forced‑labor justification. Representative Richard Neal, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, said the justification was a pretext and that forced‑labor enforcement should not be used to justify tariff policy built on questionable legal theories. Brazil described the measures as arbitrary and unjustified and said it would invoke its reciprocity law and file a complaint with the World Trade Organization. Chile’s Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Paula Estévez said the tariff conflicted with Chile’s labor standards and legal framework. Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the move was expected and affirmed Canada’s willingness to engage constructively with the United States. Human‑trafficking experts noted that the tariffs could raise awareness of forced labor but urged a phased approach to give countries time to develop effective enforcement mechanisms. Martina Vandenberg, founder of The Human Trafficking Legal Center, said the tariffs may be an effective tool but should be implemented gradually.

The measures are being introduced ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, raising concerns about potential increases in consumer prices. The administration has not completed the overproduction investigation, and further Section 301 actions are possible. International reactions suggest the tariffs may lead to retaliatory measures and WTO disputes.