On 24 February 2026, at 12:05 Washington time, new 10% US tariffs on imports from all countries came into force, with exemptions for certain categories of goods. The measures were imposed by President Trump through an executive order dated 20 February, the same day the Supreme Court annulled the previous tariffs. To avoid congressional approval, the president invoked two provisions of the Trade Act of 1974, Section 122 and Section 604, which set a time limit of 150 days and a maximum rate of 15%. In his order, Trump set the tariff at 10%, but Bloomberg reports that the rate could rise to 15%, citing a statement from an administration official. Such an increase would occur if other countries fail to comply with agreements reached prior to the Supreme Court ruling.
The order maintains several existing exemptions, including those for goods compliant with the North American trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as certain agricultural products already excluded from the tariffs that were subsequently invalidated. According to an analysis by Bloomberg Economics based on 2024 trade flows, the effective average US tariff rate will stand at around 10.2% including exemptions, down from 13.6% before the Supreme Court decision. With a global tariff set at 15%, the effective rate would rise to approximately 12%.
Uncertainty over the trajectory of US trade policy has triggered immediate reactions among major exporters to the American market. The European Union has suspended ratification of its trade agreement with Washington pending clarification of the new tariff plans. India has also postponed talks scheduled in the United States to finalise an interim trade deal, citing a lack of clarity.
On the operational front, the White House is preparing a series of accelerated investigations under other provisions, including Section 301 and Section 232, with the aim of rebuilding a tariff framework similar to the one weakened by the ruling. The inquiries will examine the impact on national interest of imports of batteries, pig iron and iron fittings, equipment for electricity and telecommunications networks, plastic piping and certain chemical products. These procedures, not yet formally announced, represent a preliminary step towards new tariffs and could take months to conclude.
The tariffs came into force just hours before the State of the Union address to Congress, in a climate shaped by the approaching midterm elections and growing public criticism of the impact of tariffs on prices. A Washington Post Abc Ipsos poll indicates that 64% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of tariffs, compared with 34% who approve.
For international trade and logistics operators, this marks a period of significant uncertainty. The 150-day maximum duration provided for under Section 122 and the possible introduction of new sectoral tariffs through other legal bases make it difficult to plan flows and contracts, pending a more stable US tariff framework. Meanwhile, the turmoil triggered by Trump’s decisions has produced a result likely to endure: the acceleration of trade agreements between countries and regions aimed at reducing reliance on exports to the United States, as the European Union has done with several Latin American countries and with India.
M.L.
