US President Donald Trump announced on Friday a temporary 10% global tariff set to last 150 days, replacing emergency trade duties recently struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States.
The new tariffs will be imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, allowing the president to levy duties of up to 15% for a maximum of 150 days to address significant balance-of-payments issues, bypassing lengthy investigations and procedural requirements. The measure will operate alongside existing tariffs already in place.
The announcement comes after the Supreme Court invalidated Trump’s earlier sweeping global tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, ruling that the president had exceeded his statutory authority.
Speaking at a White House briefing alongside Howard Lutnick, Jamieson Greer, and D. John Sauer, Trump expressed confidence in alternative legal avenues to enforce trade measures. “We have alternatives, great alternatives,” he said. “We’ll take in more money and we’ll be a lot stronger for it.”
In addition, the administration announced the initiation of multiple Section 301 investigations into alleged unfair trade practices by foreign governments and companies. While these investigations often take months to complete, the temporary 10% tariff under Section 122 can be applied immediately but is limited to the 150-day period.
This move signals the administration’s continued commitment to maintaining an assertive trade policy despite the Supreme Court’s restrictions, aiming to protect US economic interests and generate revenue in the short term.
Source: Africa Publicity
