Trump administration is trying to make sure tariffs are 'as legally durable as they can': Expert

• New tariffs of 10-12.5% are to be imposed on 60 US trade partners, accounting for 99% of US imports.
• The tariffs are based on Section 301, a long-standing statute, which makes them legally robust and less susceptible to court challenges.
• The policy's criteria for forced labor enforcement are rigorous, effectively classifying most trade partners as 'guilty' unless they match US standards.
• Countries with existing bilateral deals (EU, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland) may have a rate cap (15%) on these tariffs, offering some flexibility compared to others.

The discussion centers on the Trump administration's proposed sweeping new tariffs of 10-12.5% on 60 trade partners, including China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, India, Canada, and the EU. The expert explains that these tariffs are based on Section 301, a historically used statute, making them legally durable. The policy casts a wide net, essentially deeming most trade partners 'guilty' if their forced labor enforcement doesn't match US standards.