What Happened?

Since a Supreme Court ruling struck down its earlier emergency tariffs, the Trump administration has used four different trade laws to put new tariffs in place. Congress's research service (CRS) published a fact sheet on 2026 presidential tariffs. ​

After the court ruling, the administration turned to four other laws: Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, and Sections 122 and 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. On July 23, the administration set tariffs of 10 or 12.5 percent on 60 economies, saying they failed to stop imports made with forced labor, and the tariffs took effect July 24.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

Steel and aluminum tariffs range from 10 to 50 percent worldwide, and tariffs on patented drugs and their ingredients range from 10 to 100 percent, depending on the country. Canadian cars, alcohol, and dairy products face 50 percent tariffs, and in some cases they are banned from import entirely, with no exemption for goods that follow the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Minimum import prices on polysilicon start Dec. 4, tariffs on some timber and lumber rise Jan. 1, 2027, and duties on some drone parts start Feb. 9, 2027.

Both Sides, Now

President Donald Trump and his administration say the tariffs are legal and aimed at unfair trade, including forced labor imports and extra factory production in other countries.

Critics say the tariffs will raise costs for businesses and consumers and could lead other countries to strike back. Canada announced 15, 25, and 50 percent counter-tariffs on some U.S. goods in response to the Section 338 tariffs, starting Sept. 8. The Bank of Canada said the new tariffs could push Canada's growth in the last three months of the year below 1 percent, since uncertainty may hold back investment.

Unlike the emergency tariffs the court struck down, Sections 232 and 301 require a finished investigation before new tariffs can be added.

What Happens Next?

Several Section 232 and 301 investigations are still open, and their tariff rates will be set when they finish. A separate Section 301 investigation into too much manufacturing capacity started in March and is still going.

Congress could pass laws to take back tariff power or limit it, but no such bill has been scheduled for a vote. The next key dates are Dec. 4 for polysilicon prices, Jan. 1, 2027, for lumber duties, and Feb. 9, 2027, for drone parts tariffs.

Will Congress act to reassert its role over trade policy before the next round of tariffs takes effect?

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