# US activates 10-12.5% forced-labor tariffs on 60 economies, replacing expiring global duties > The US on July 24 imposed new import duties of 10% or 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the EU and Thailand, citing those countries' failure to enforce bans on goods made with forced labor. A presidential memorandum signed July 23 invoked Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, replacing a prior tariff layer that expired at midnight. **Meta:** type: event · date: 2026-07-23 · heads: 谁的钱, 长远之局 · 9 takes · 6 lenses · 5 regions ## Summary A [Section 301](/zh/n/trump-forced-labor-301-tariffs) presidential memorandum signed July 23, 2026 imposed import duties of 10% or 12.5% on goods from the United States' top 60 trading partners, taking effect at 12:01 am ET Friday. The action cites those countries' failure to prohibit, or adequately enforce bans on, goods made with forced labor. The affected list spans virtually all major US trade relationships: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the European Union, and 54 other economies that together account for 99% of US imports. The new rates replace a prior tariff layer that expired at the same hour. Japan faces at least 12.5%, while the EU and Taiwan face at least 10%. ## The split US financial media (CNBC, NBC) frames the action as the administration rebuilding its tariff architecture after losing IEEPA-based authority in court, with Section 301's survival of prior legal challenges made the headline. Japan Times frames it as the US "rebuilding" tariff reach after legal setbacks and leads with Japan's 12.5% rate, higher than the EU's 10%. Taiwanese tech-industry press (Digitimes) focuses on the manufacturing supply-chain exposure of the key Asian electronics exporters, while Bangkok Post makes explicit what US-centric coverage left implicit: Thailand, a major manufacturing hub and bilateral US partner, is among the 60 hit. Korean and Nikkei Asia coverage treats the measure as a market event, tracking its implications for electronics and auto sectors. No non-English coverage from China or India is yet in the verified feed for this event. ## By the numbers - 60, trading partners covered by the July 24 order - 99%, share of US imports by value covered - 10% or 12.5%, the two rate tiers imposed - 12:01 am ET July 24, effective time - At least 12.5%, minimum rate for Japan - At least 10%, minimum rate for the EU and Taiwan ## Why it matters [Section 301](/zh/n/trump-forced-labor-301-tariffs) carries no statutory cap on rates and survived earlier court challenges that voided the administration's [IEEPA-based authority](/zh/n/us-ustr-forced-labor-tariffs-2026). The new duties, stacked on existing bilateral deal floors, raise the effective cost of imports from allied economies, including Japan and South Korea, above levels negotiated in recent deals. Companies that frontloaded orders to beat earlier tariff rounds now face a new, potentially durable baseline hitting their remaining inventory. ## What to watch Whether the EU, Japan or South Korea file WTO challenges; how US courts read this application of Section 301 to allied economies; and whether bilateral agreements carve out specific sectors, particularly semiconductors from [Taiwan](/zh/n/taiwan-pla-east-maritime-2026) and automobiles from Japan. ## Regional takes (batched by bias / lens) ### US financial media - **CNBC** (United States, en) — CNBC reports the administration imposed 'sweeping' new tariffs as the previous global tariff layer expired. Context: prior IEEPA-based authority was struck down by courts, and Section 301 is now the administration's primary trade vehicle. > "The Trump administration has ramped its tariff actions back up since the president's trade agenda suffered major legal setbacks earlier this year." Source: https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2026/07/23/trump-tariffs-trade-deadline.html ### US broadcast news - **NBC News** (United States, en) — NBC confirms the 60-country scope and timing: 10-12.5% on imports accounting for 99% of US imports, effective 12:01 am ET July 24. The charge is inadequate enforcement of forced-labor import bans. > "The United States will slap taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, charging that they have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labor." Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/trump-tariffs-60-countries-forced-labor-rcna588972 ### Japan-based English - **Japan Times** (Japan, en) — Japan Times frames the measure as the administration 'rebuilding' its tariff regime after court losses. Japan faces at least 12.5%, the EU and Taiwan at least 10%. > "Duties on items from the European Union and Taiwan will be at least 10% and products from Japan will be taxed at at least 12.5%." Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/07/24/economy/trump-rebuild-tariffs/ ### Thai English-language press; Thailand named among the 60 economies facing the new US forced-labor Section 301 tariffs - **Bangkok Post** (Thailand, en) — Bangkok Post reports Thailand is among the 60 trading partners hit by the new US forced-labor Section 301 tariffs taking effect July 24, providing the Thai domestic perspective on a measure that US-centric coverage framed as a trade-enforcement action and Asian exporters receive as an additional tariff layer on top of existing bilateral rates. > "Thailand is among 60 trading partners facing new US forced-labor tariffs of up to 12.5%, effective Friday." Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3291035/us-to-impose-new-tariffs-of-up-to-125-on-60-trading-partners-including-thailand-on-friday ### Taiwanese tech-industry press; Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea among 60 economies facing US forced-labor Section 301 tariffs - **Digitimes** (Taiwan, en) — Digitimes, Taiwan's semiconductor and electronics industry publication, covers the new US forced-labor tariffs landing on Asia's manufacturing base, with Taiwan facing at least 10%, Japan at least 12.5%, and South Korea among the 60 affected economies; the tech-industry angle focuses on supply chain exposure for the semiconductor and electronics sectors already navigating existing bilateral deal terms. > "Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea are among 60 economies facing new US forced-labor Section 301 tariffs effective July 24." Source: https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20260724PR202/asia-manufacturing-usa-tariffs-taiwan-2026.html ### unlabelled - **Nikkei Asia** (Japan, en) — Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/economy/trade-war/trump-tariffs/asia-braces-for-new-us-tariffs-as-global-10-levy-expires - **NPR** (United States, en) — Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/07/23/g-s1-135388/trump-tariffs-trade-country - **Korea Herald** (South Korea, en) — Source: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10818622 - **Korea Herald** (South Korea, en) — Source: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10818990 ## Across the graph - Related: [[trump-forced-labor-301-tariffs]], [[us-ustr-forced-labor-tariffs-2026]], [[mexico-usmca-round3-0723]] - Entities: United States, US China Trade, US EU Trade --- Canonical: https://rbtfl.xyz/zh/n/us-forced-labor-tariffs-0724