Forced Labor and Section 301 Again! Trump to Launch New Round of Tariffs This Week, 60 Countries Face Up to 12.5% Rates

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to launch a new round of tariffs on dozens of countries as early as this week. With the current 10% baseline tariff nearing expiration, Washington officials are fully prepared to restart tariff measures. The new tariffs will be justified by what readers may recognize as 'forced labor investigations.'

Although senior White House advisers have warned the president that reigniting a trade war ahead of midterm elections could destabilize the U.S. economy or provoke voter backlash, Trump—whose foreign policy heavily relies on tariffs—appears to have ignored their advice. After imposing a 25% additional tariff on Brazil, he levied a punitive 50% tariff on Canada on the 21st.

In early 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to overturn Trump’s 'Liberation Day Tariff' policy announced in 2025. Following that decision, Washington transitioned to a 10% temporary tariff, which is set to expire officially on the 24th under its legal authority. To avoid the statutory provisions previously rejected by the Supreme Court, the new round of tariffs is expected to be based on 'forced labor investigations.'

On April 2, 2025, President Trump announced new tariffs in the White House Rose Garden. (AP)

New Tariff Rates of 10–12.5% on Sixty Countries

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, targeting 60 countries and regions for potential forced labor practices and their implementation of preventive measures. The U.S. plans to impose new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on these nations. Additionally, a second wave of investigations has been launched regarding overcapacity issues, including Taiwan, the European Union (EU), China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, India, and several Southeast Asian countries. This new strategy indicates that the White House can no longer rely solely on presidential emergency powers to impose massive tariffs and must instead use traditional administrative legal tools to levy additional import duties.

Insiders reveal that senior officials have privately urged Trump to maintain stable relations with trade partners and honor the new trade agreements reached in 2025, which secured lower tariff rates and favorable trade conditions. Trump’s timing for reigniting the trade war coincides with worsening U.S.-Iran tensions, escalating Middle East conflicts, and severe volatility in global energy markets. This week, gasoline prices in the U.S. have again surpassed $4 per gallon, further fueling public dissatisfaction over rising living costs.

On August 1, 2025, shipping containers were stacked at the port of Los Angeles. (AP)

According to a recent Financial Times (FT) poll, over two-thirds of American voters are dissatisfied with the Trump administration’s handling of the cost of living. Michael Smart, Managing Director at Washington-based advisory firm Rock Creek Global Advisors, analyzed that affordability for American consumers will be the biggest constraint on Trump’s ability to escalate tariffs. To mitigate potential domestic economic impacts, U.S. officials have issued broad exemption lists for key consumer goods such as beef and coffee and relaxed restrictions on certain steel and aluminum products.