On July 24, 2026, the USA introduced new tariffs on goods from 60 economies. The US trade authority USTR cited insufficient measures against trade in products made with forced labor as the justification.
The measure is implemented under Section 301 of the American Trade Act. This instrument allows the USA to take action against what it considers unfair or discriminatory trade practices. According to USTR, the affected economies account for approximately 99.4 percent of total US imports.
Switzerland is subject to a special calculation. Swiss goods are not simply burdened with an additional tariff of 12.5 percent. The normal MFN tariff is credited against this amount.
If the regular US tariff is, for example, 5 percent, a Section 301 tariff of 7.5 percent is added. Together this equals 12.5 percent. If the normal tariff is already 12.5 percent or higher, no additional Section 301 tariff is imposed. Numerous goods are also completely exempted.
For the EU and Taiwan, this cap is set at 10 percent. Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland receive the 12.5 percent rule with MFN tariff credits. A further 38 economies, including China, Brazil, and Vietnam, are generally subject to an additional 12.5 percent tariff. In the case of China and Brazil, these tariffs can be combined with existing Section 301 tariffs.
The short transition period has now ended. Goods already loaded for ocean transport before July 24 could only be exempted from the new tariff if US customs entry occurred before July 28 at 00:01 Eastern Coast Time. A simple departure before the cutoff date is therefore no longer sufficient.
Two US importers have already filed suit in the US Court of International Trade. They accuse the government of using the forced labor investigation as a means to reintroduce the previously suspended broad US tariffs. However, the lawsuit does not automatically invalidate the tariffs.