On Friday, July 24, 2026, the United States implemented a new round of tariffs affecting 60 global economies, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea. These measures follow the expiration of temporary tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in February and are part of a broader policy push to address allegations regarding the use of forced labor in international trade.

The tariffs are divided into two tiers: a 10% duty applies to the European Union, Britain, Mexico, and Canada, while a 12.5% rate is imposed on approximately 40 other nations, including China, Japan, Switzerland, and South Korea. Energy and raw materials are expected to be exempted from the list. U.S. officials indicated that while some nations qualified for the lower 10% rate by taking steps to combat forced labor, the government remains skeptical about the long-term effectiveness of these measures and is prepared to maintain the higher tariffs.

This policy follows a multi-month investigation by the U.S. Trade Representative. According to CNN, the timing coincides with the expiration of previous duties that had faced legal challenges in the Supreme Court. The administration maintains that these actions are necessary to address insufficient efforts by trade partners to eradicate forced labor practices.