Presidential Tariff Actions | United States Trade Representative
For the Presidential actions taken pursuant to his authority under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, see below.
ustr.govThe latest major tariff news is that Trump’s administration is still pushing ahead with new import duties despite legal setbacks, including a February 20 move to impose a temporary 10% import duty for 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. He then said he would raise global tariffs to 15% after the Supreme Court struck down an earlier broad tariff approach.[1][5][7]
What changed recently
- The White House said the February 20 action created a temporary 10% import duty, starting February 24, with some exemptions such as USMCA-compliant Canada/Mexico goods and certain other categories.[1]
- Trump then announced on February 21 that the global tariff rate would rise from 10% to 15% “effective immediately.”[5][7]
- Separate reporting says the administration is also moving on steel and aluminum duties and broader trade investigations.[3][9]
Legal and market impact
- The Supreme Court ruled that Trump had overstepped when using emergency powers for earlier broad tariffs, which triggered new tariff design changes.[2][5]
- Reuters and other reports say businesses are pursuing tariff refunds, and court rulings have created uncertainty around how much of the tariff regime can stand.[4][3]
- The overall effect is that U.S. tariff policy remains active but highly contested, with new duties being layered on as others face legal challenge.[9][5][1]
Most relevant current angle
If you mean the current tariff situation in general, the key story is: Trump has shifted from court-struck emergency tariffs to a temporary tariff under a different statute, while also signaling higher global tariffs and new sector-specific duties.[6][5][1]