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President Donald Trump is moving forward with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of the United States’ trading partners, just as the clock runs out on Friday on stoppage levies he announced after a stinging defeat at the Supreme Court.
Al Jazeera reports that the US will impose levies of 10 to 12.5 per cent on imports from 60 countries, which account for 99 per cent of US imports, charging that these countries have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labour.
The new tariffs will take effect just as the temporary 100 per cent worldwide tariffs expire at 12:01 am on Friday in Washington, DC. Trump had turned to the temporary levies after the Supreme Court struck down his biggest and boldest tariffs in February.
Now he is tapping more durable tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits the president to impose import taxes and other sanctions against countries found to engage in “unjustifiable”, “unreasonable”, or “discriminatory” trade practices.
Trump used Section 301 to impose big tariffs on China in his first term, and they survived court challenges.
More Section 301 tariffs are likely coming: Grrer’s office has launched a probe into whether 16 countries – accounting for 70 per cent of US imports – have overproduced goods, pushing down prices and putting US companies at a disadvantage in global markets.
The administration has yet to complete that investigation.
