According to theloadstar.com, the United States replaced its temporary Section 122 import surcharge with a new Section 301 tariff regime targeting imports from 60 economies effective at 12.01am Eastern Time on 24 July 2026.
Tariff Structure and Coverage
The new ‘forced labour’ Section 301 duties impose tariffs of either 10% or 12.5%, depending on the exporting country — replacing the expired Section 122 surcharge. While the regime covers the vast majority of US imports, it does not apply uniformly: exports from EU states and Taiwan are subject to a combined duty cap of 10%, inclusive of any pre-existing most-favoured nation (MFN) rate; Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland face a capped combined duty of 12.5%. Products already liable for MFN duties at or above those thresholds incur no additional Section 301 tariff.
This arrangement reflects the Turnberry Agreement between Washington and Brussels, under which the US committed to cap tariffs on most EU goods at 15%. However, the new 10% cap has drawn political backlash.
“We had a deal with America and we have kept to that deal, that side of the deal. That’s why it is a negative surprise that this agreement is not kept.” — Kaja Kallas, EU foreign policy chief
Layered Tariff Complexity
Customs specialists emphasize that the greatest challenge lies not in headline rates but in tariff layering. The new measures interact with multiple existing regimes: China-specific Section 301 tariffs; Section 232 duties on steel, aluminium, and automotive products; anti-dumping and countervailing duties; Section 338 actions; and baseline MFN rates. Notably, products already subject to Section 232 tariffs appear exempt from the new Section 301 duties — avoiding cumulative application in those sectors.
US authorities also published a detailed list of exemptions covering semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, civil aircraft, certain critical raw materials, humanitarian donations, informational materials, and goods already covered by Section 232. Brazilian forwarder AGL Cargo’s Jackson Campos highlighted ambiguity around stacking: “It’s unclear whether Brazil’s new 12.5% tariff will stack with an existing 25% duty on certain products, potentially creating a combined 37.5% surcharge.”
Operational Impact and Market Response
Forwarders report immediate customer inquiries as importers scramble to reassess tariff classifications, country-of-origin declarations, sourcing strategies, and shipping routes. Demand for customs expertise is expected to rise sharply. Christos Spyrou, founder and CEO of Neutral Air Partner, noted on The Loadstar’s News in Brief Podcast: “I think the market will adapt, as it always does.” He added that disruption is most acute for integrators, express carriers, and B2C e-commerce players — where tariff changes directly affect high-volume shipments and consumer purchasing decisions.
“Businesses can adapt to tariffs, or anything else,” he said. “But what the industry needs is stability. We need stability to be able to plan ahead, and we don’t have that now.” Trade consultant Pete Mento underscored the same point on social media:
“The thing people need to understand is not necessarily the rates but the interactions.” — Pete Mento, trade consultant
Source: The Loadstar
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
