Trump slaps new tariffs on more than 80 countries to swerve court ruling

(Sharecast News) - US President Donald Trump restarted his global trade war on more than 80 nations, using anti forced labour laws to get around a Supreme Court ruling that found his previous package of levies illegal.

The measures, which replace a blanket 10% duty, include 50% duties on selected Canadian goods, such as wine, cement, dairy products and sporting equipment, alongside new 10-12.5% levies on imports from around 60 countries.

Officials said the actions were designed to "rebalance" trade relationships it claimed disadvantaged American producers. They said the higher Canadian tariffs were a response to long‑standing barriers to US agricultural and industrial exports.

Washington has accused Ottawa of unfairly protecting its dairy sector and discriminating against American autos and alcohol, claims Canada rejects. The new duties mark one of the sharpest escalations in US-Canada trade tensions in recent years, affecting roughly $20bn of Canadian exports.

The broader set of global tariffs stems from the administration's assertion that many countries have failed to enforce bans on goods produced with forced labour. Invoking Section 301 of the Trade Act - a tool historically used to counter unfair practices - allows Trump to maintain a near‑universal tariff floor without relying on contested presidential powers.

Although the constitution gives Congress the power to levy taxes, Trump last April declared a national emergency and used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose a baseline 10% tariff on all imports. He labelled the day "liberation day," arguing the move was necessary to defend US economic interests.

However, in February the US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that presidents cannot use emergency powers to impose tariffs during peacetime, reaffirming that such authority rests with Congress. Trump responded immediately by launching a fresh 10% tariff regime under a little‑used trade statute that allowed him to act for a limited period.

The workaround came with an expiry date: the law capped the tariffs at 150 days, and the temporary duties lapsed at 12:01am on Friday, forcing the administration to find yet another legal mechanism to keep Trump's agenda alive.

The announcement drew mixed reactions from markets and foreign governments. Canada signalled it would consider retaliatory steps, while several European officials warned the measures could strain transatlantic trade.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com