The Trump administration will introduce new tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on more than 80 countries, replacing a 10% global duty due to expire on Friday. The move marks a further escalation of Donald Trump’s trade policy and could affect prices and trading relationships, while the administration says it is intended to address forced labour and unfair trade practices.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the measures would use Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, aimed at countries involved in forced labour. The policy follows a Supreme Court ruling in February that invalidated many earlier tariffs; critics warn the new duties could raise consumer prices, although Greer denied they had done so and cited core inflation of 2.6% year on year.