USTR Proposes 10%-12.5% Tariffs on 60 Nations as $25.6 Billion June Shortfall Mounts
Updated
Updated · Fortune · Jul 16
USTR Proposes 10%-12.5% Tariffs on 60 Nations as $25.6 Billion June Shortfall Mounts
3 articles · Updated · Fortune · Jul 16
Summary
Jamieson Greer last month proposed Section 301 tariffs of 10% on 16 countries and 12.5% on 44 more, targeting imports tied to forced labor before Trump’s 10% global Section 122 tariffs expire on July 24.
The push follows a Supreme Court ruling in February that voided Trump’s broader emergency tariffs, forcing importer refunds and flipping tariff revenue from a $31.4 billion peak last October to a $25.6 billion Treasury loss in June.
Section 301 offers a more durable legal path because the tariffs can be renewed after four years, but Greer still must finish public-comment and hearing procedures before imposing them.
Trade lawyers expect the administration to beat the July 24 deadline with little gap between the old and new levies, while a separate Section 301 probe into overproduction by 16 trading partners could yield more tariffs in a month or two.
Businesses may get somewhat clearer rules under the more procedural Section 301 regime, but analysts say using it to recreate near-universal tariffs could still trigger fresh court challenges.
As a key tariff deadline looms, can the U.S. legally replace its invalidated trade strategy before losing billions more in revenue?
With new tariffs targeting 60 nations over labor practices, is the U.S. launching a new global trade conflict by another name?
U.S. Targets 60 Economies With New Section 301 Tariffs in 2026 Amid Forced Labor Concerns and Legal Upheaval
Overview
In June 2026, the U.S. Trade Representative proposed new retaliatory tariffs on 60 trading economies after finding they failed to stop imports of goods made with forced labor. This broad action, announced just after formal findings under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, signals a major shift in U.S. trade policy. The USTR opened a public comment period, inviting feedback before final decisions. Experts warn that changes to these tariffs could reshape global supply chains, as companies may need to adjust sourcing and pricing strategies to manage the impact of these sweeping trade measures.