US 301 Tariffs Expand to 60 Partners, Court Rulings
The Trump administration rolled out a new wave of Section 301 tariffs targeting roughly 60 trading partners, with rates of 10% or 12.5%, effective as the prior temporary 10% global surcharge expired. Countries that have enacted or enforced forced-labor bans, including India, the UK, Canada, Mexico, and others, will face the 10% rate, while nations without such restrictions, such as China, Japan, and South Korea, face 12.5%. In India’s case, the 10% levy follows its recent prohibition on imports of goods made wholly or partly through forced labor, helping secure a lower rate than originally proposed. The move shifts from a temporary surcharge to a permanent Section 301 tariff regime, with no automatic expiry date and with exemptions for items already covered by other tariffs or national security measures. Observers say the policy pressures partners to strengthen labor-rights enforcement and signals a broader reconfiguration of U.S. tariffs amid legal challenges to earlier measures. The policy has drawn mixed reactions and underscores a high-stakes debate over forced labor and trade policy, with India highlighted as a notable example.


