US rebuilds tariff regime using established tools

30 July 2026

Last week, the US administration imposed a raft of new tariffs on 59 countries and the European Union, citing their failure to impose or effectively enforce a prohibition on the import of goods produced with forced labour. The tariffs, which range from 10% to 12.5%, became effective on 24 July. They were imposed just as the US administration's global 10% tariffs, imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act 1974, expired.

This briefing covers the legal basis for these tariffs (namely Section 301 of the Trade Act 1974), which countries are affected, which goods are exempted and practical steps businesses should be taking.

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