Trump directs tariffs on 60 economies over forced-labor import bans

President Trump issued a memorandum ordering USTR to impose Section 301 tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners, effective July 24, 2026. The duties—10% or 12.5%—target economies that failed to prohibit or enforce bans on imports made with forced labor, covering about 99.4% of U.S. imports. Critics argue the forced-labor justification is a pretext to bypass the Supreme Court's invalidation of IEEPA-based tariffs, continuing a pattern of cycling through alternative legal authorities. The move drew immediate legal skepticism, with analysts predicting court challenges over presidential authority.

“This is an unprecedented expansion of presidential tariff power, and it will almost certainly face immediate legal challenges.” — Legal analyst commenting on the memorandum.