US Imposes New Tariffs on EU and Dozens of Other Nations, Ranging from 10% to 12.5%

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is imposing new tariffs on the European Union and dozens of other trading partners, effective Friday at 12:01 a.m. The tariffs, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, will apply to approximately 60 countries, including the EU, China, and India. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative stated that these nations account for 99.4% of all U.S. imports.

These new tariffs replace a previous near-universal 10% tariff introduced by Trump earlier this year. White House officials emphasized that the president will continue to use all available tools to enforce his trade policy, even if certain measures face legal constraints.

The tariffs are motivated by concerns over the potential use of forced labor in supply chains for foreign-made goods entering the U.S. market. Countries deemed by the U.S. to have taken steps to address this issue—such as EU member states—will be subject to a lower 10% tariff, while others face a 12.5% rate. Certain goods are exempted, including oil, gas, specific energy products, items the U.S. cannot produce in sufficient quantities, and products covered by existing trade agreements.

Several countries have criticized the U.S. decision. Australia called the tariffs unwarranted, while Brazil described them as arbitrary and unfair. Meanwhile, other nations are seeking relief or exceptions through negotiations.