The United States is replacing its expiring 10% global tariff with new country-specific duties of up to 12.5%, a shift that will affect nearly all American imports beginning Friday. The new rates, announced by Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, take effect at midnight US time as the blanket 10% levy — a 150-day stopgap imposed in February after the Supreme Court struck down part of President Donald Trump's earlier tariff framework — reaches its deadline.
The tariffs, grounded in Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, target roughly 60 countries and territories over what Washington calls inadequate enforcement against forced labour. Japan and Norway face the maximum 12.5% rate, while Canada and the European Union are set at 10%, keeping the EU below a 15% ceiling agreed in bilateral trade talks.
The move drew sharp criticism from allies. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide disputed the forced-labour justification, saying Norway is adopting the same regulations as the EU and calling the tariff disparity unreasonable.