U.S. Trade Representative Signals New Tariff Policies Imminent
0xBroomberg
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said July 21 that Washington will soon unveil new tariffs to replace the current 10% global import levy, but gave no specific timeline — Congress must be briefed first.
The current tariff is expiring — what replaces it?
Trump imposed a 10% blanket import tariff in February under Section 122 of the Trade Act, valid for 150 days.
This means → the levy has a built-in expiry; without a successor, the rate drops to zero automatically.
The replacement plan would use Section 301 — a statute letting the president impose tariffs over unfair trade practices — citing alleged "forced labor" to levy 10%–12.5% on imports from 60 countries and territories.
Why change the legal basis?
Section 122 is an emergency tool with a hard 150-day clock; once it runs out, the authority lapses.
Section 301 carries no fixed time limit. In plain terms = switching the legal footing lets the tariffs stay in place indefinitely, no countdown.
But Section 301 requires a specific trade-practice justification. The one chosen here: "failure to ban imports made with forced labor."
How are trading partners reacting?
USTR posted the proposed tariff action on June 2, drawing widespread opposition from affected trade partners.
Greer said Congress and other stakeholders must be notified before a formal announcement. This reflects that even domestically, the process is not yet complete.
Whether the final scope matches the June notice — and whether it lands before the current tariff expires — remains unconfirmed.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.