Greer Defends Trump Tariff Strategy as 10% Global Duty Nears Friday Expiry
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 22
Greer Defends Trump Tariff Strategy as 10% Global Duty Nears Friday Expiry
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 22
Summary
Jamieson Greer told the Senate Finance Committee the administration will keep using tariffs, calling the trade "national emergency" ongoing and Trump's approach a success despite February's legal setback.
Friday's expiry of the current 10% global tariff is driving urgency: the administration has readied replacement duties and could roll out new Section 301 tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on goods from more than 80 countries.
That push comes as Trump has already widened pressure elsewhere, signing 50% tariffs on many Canadian goods and signaling steep tariffs on generic medicines in 2028.
Lawmakers from both parties warned the shifting tariffs are raising consumer costs and straining trade with Canada and Mexico, key U.S. export markets under the U.S.M.C.A.
Congress is now weighing whether to curb or expand presidential tariff powers, with Ron Wyden proposing mandatory approval for tariffs even as another bill could let Trump raise some duties to 100%.
With new tariffs on 80+ countries, is the U.S. fixing global labor issues or starting a trade war?
As tariffs raise consumer prices, how will the new global duties actually benefit American household budgets?
After courts rejected past tariffs, will the administration's new legal strategy survive the inevitable challenges?
The 2026 US Tariff Overhaul: Section 301, Forced Labor Crackdown, and the Global Impact of 10–12.5% Import Duties
Overview
The report highlights a major shift in U.S. trade policy following the expiration of the 10% global import surcharge, which was previously imposed under Section 122 but struck down by the Supreme Court. In response, the administration is now using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to introduce new tariffs, focusing on unfair foreign trade practices such as forced labor. This new framework is designed to be more legally robust and difficult for future administrations to reverse, signaling a long-term move toward protectionism and stricter enforcement of trade rules.