On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on 60 countries and economies, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. These tariffs will take effect starting at midnight on Friday.
The decision, reported by El País and CNN Español, coincides with the expiration of a universal 10% tariff that Trump had implemented in February 2026. The previous tariff was in response to a Supreme Court ruling that deemed his reciprocal tariffs on "Liberation Day" illegal.
This time, the White House invoked Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows for tariffs against countries engaging in "unfair, unjustifiable, or discriminatory" trade practices. Unlike the prior measure, this does not have an expiration date nor requires congressional approval to remain in effect.
The official rationale is that these 60 trading partners failed to take sufficient measures to curb imports produced through forced labor.
Countries that have taken steps in this direction, such as Canada, Mexico, EU members, the UK, India, and Indonesia, will face the lower rate of 10%, while the rest will be subjected to 12.5%.
According to the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, goods from the affected countries constitute 99.4% of total U.S. imports, making this the most extensive tariff action of Trump's administration.
A senior White House official stated, "The president will not allow his trade policy and overall objectives to be undermined just because a tool might be limited by a court or something else."
Another administration official added, "We've heard loud and clear: people want to know what tariff rate they will be paying."
Exemptions were granted for oil and gas, products not obtainable domestically, goods covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), pharmaceuticals, aircraft components, and certain raw materials.
For most American consumers, the immediate impact on prices would be limited, as the new tariffs replace those that importers were already paying. However, analysts caution that this could change in the coming months.
This new round is part of an ongoing trade escalation: last Monday, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Canadian products effective August 19, and on July 16, he established a 25% levy on Brazil, accusing President Lula da Silva of negotiating in "bad faith."
The process leading to the new tariffs began on June 2, 2026, when the U.S. Trade Representative's Office published findings from 60 investigations and opened a public comment period that closed on July 6, followed by hearings the next day.
Commerce Secretary Jamieson Greer also initiated a second inquiry against 16 countries accused of overproduction, including China, Mexico, and the EU, signaling a potential new round of tariffs in the coming months.
The administration is also facing the renegotiation of the USMCA, signed in 2020, and approaching midterm elections in four months, with polls indicating growing public dissatisfaction with Trump's economic policies.
"The real message everyone needs to understand is that the president will always use the tools at his disposal to achieve his trade policy goals," concluded a senior White House official.
Understanding the New U.S. Tariffs and Their Implications
Which countries are affected by the new U.S. tariffs?
The new tariffs affect 60 countries, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.
What is the justification for these tariffs?
The official reason for the tariffs is that the affected countries have not taken adequate measures to reduce imports produced through forced labor.
What is Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974?
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 allows the U.S. to impose tariffs on countries that engage in unfair, unjustifiable, or discriminatory trade practices.