President Donald Trump announced new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% [1] on goods imported from 60 countries [2].

These measures significantly alter global trade dynamics by targeting nearly all foreign goods entering the U.S. market. The scale of the tariffs suggests a shift toward aggressive enforcement of labor standards as a primary tool of economic policy.

The new levies apply to approximately 99% [2] of U.S. imports. This wide net includes goods from various trading partners, including the United Kingdom [3]. The administration said that the tariffs took effect the night of July 23, 2026 [4], coinciding with the expiration of previous stop-gap levies that had a deadline of Friday, July 26, 2026 [5].

Trump said the tariffs were necessary because trading partners had failed to properly enforce a ban on goods made with forced labour [6]. "They have failed to properly enforce a ban on goods made with forced labour," Trump said [7].

The timing of the new announcement follows a Supreme Court ruling that found prior emergency-power tariffs to be unlawful [2]. By implementing these specific levies tied to labor enforcement, the administration appears to be seeking a new legal footing for import restrictions.

The impact is expected to be widespread across multiple sectors due to the high percentage of covered imports [2]. The administration said these costs are a penalty for nations that do not police their own supply chains against forced labor [6].

“"They have failed to properly enforce a ban on goods made with forced labour."”

This move represents a transition from targeted trade disputes to a systemic tariff regime. By linking the levies to forced labor enforcement and covering 99% of imports, the U.S. is effectively creating a global compliance standard. The shift also suggests the administration is pivoting its strategy following the Supreme Court's decision to invalidate emergency-power tariffs, moving instead toward policy-based justifications to maintain high import costs.