Trade

Donald Trump's new global tariffs in force

Kicking off at 6 a.m. this morning are the new global tariffs wanted by the White House, which is working on a new legal form for customs tariffs

24 February 2026

Il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump interviene durante la "Cerimonia in memoria delle famiglie degli angeli" alla Casa Bianca a Washington, DC, USA, il 23 febbraio 2026. La cerimonia ha incluso la firma di una dichiarazione che designa il 22 febbraio come "Giornata delle famiglie degli angeli". Le famiglie degli angeli sono quelle che hanno perso i propri cari a causa della violenza commessa da migranti privi di documenti. EPA/WILL OLIVER

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Thenew global tariffs of 10% announced by US President Donald Trump went into effect at 6am this morning. This new surcharge, introduced by a decree signed on Friday, is intended to replace the indiscriminate tariffs that existed until now and those provided for in the various trade agreements signed with most of the country's main trading partners. On the other hand, it does not replace the so-called sectoral tariffs, which range from 10% to 50% on a number of business sectors, such as copper, automotive or construction wood, which were not affected by the Supreme Court's decision to invalidate most of the tariffs imposed by the US president.

At the same time, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped collecting tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (Ieepa) that were declared illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Last roof set with a post on Truth

The new global tax, initially set by presidential decree at 10% and then raised by Trump by a further 5% with a post on Truth Social in anticipation of updated decrees, replaces the so-called reciprocal tariffs and levies linked to the flow of fentanyl (for Canada, Mexico and China) established citing the Ieepa economic emergency law and rejected by the US courts.

Last Friday, a few hours after the ruling, the president signed an executive order authorising the 10% tax on imports. He later threatened to increase the rate to 15%, but Trump did not officially issue a directive to that effect by 12:01 a.m. Washington time today, Tuesday, 24 February, when the 10% tax went into effect.

Presidential hard line confirmed

Donald Trump is therefore not giving up on tariffs, and does not seem intent on departing from a hard and intransigent line. Countries that get smart by taking advantage of the Supreme Court ruling, he warns, "will face tariffs that are much higher and worse than those agreed to recently. Words spoken within hours of the entry into force of 15% tariffs for all, imposed to replace those branded illegal in the High Court ruling.

The 15% tariffs will remain in force for 150 days, until the end of July, as provided by Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 on which they are based (a different law from the Ieepa rejected by the Wise Men). If Trump decided to extend them, he would then have to resort to Congress, where he would face the wall of Democrats ready to do battle by any means. Senate Dem leader Chuck Schumer has already assured that the party will fight to block any extension. And a possible recourse to Congress to extend existing tariffs or to codify them into law (so as to give the president a free hand) is a hypothesis viewed with scepticism even by Republicans, given the election year.

New legal dress for tariffs on goods

In these hours, the Trump administration is considering new legal tools to impose tariffs on several product categories after the Supreme Court blocked most of the tariffs introduced earlier last week. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal. According to the newspaper, the new measures could affect sectors such as large-format batteries, cast iron fittings and castings, plastic pipes, industrial chemicals, and equipment for electrical and telecommunications networks. Trump's team is also reportedly accelerating the introduction of tariffs in other industries, including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, drones, industrial robots and polysilicon used in solar panels.

The new tariffs would be imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the president to restrict imports for national security reasons. On Friday, however, the Supreme Court rejected the tariff scheme launched by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The president criticised the court's decision as 'ridiculous' and ordered the temporary application of a 10 per cent tariffs on all imports into the US for 150 days, later announcing an increase to 15 per cent in tariffs to all countries.

Lange (Europarliament): uncertainty and unpredictability from the US

Meanwhile, from the European Parliament comes the request to the United States to clearly and durably confirm compliance with the EU-US tariffs agreement reached in Scotland last July, after the decision to postpone the vote on the regulations necessary for ratification. This was stated by the chairman of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee, socialist Bernd Lange, in an interview with Corriere della Sera.

"It is quite clear that we want to stick to the agreement," said Lange, emphasising, however, that there would be violations on the US side "day after day or month after month". He cited the increase of tariffs on so-called steel and aluminium derivatives from 15 to 50 per cent and the introduction of new tariffs in addition to those in the agreement, with cumulative effects on European products. "This means, for example, that for Italia cheese it is not 15 per cent, but 30: 15 plus 15," he said.

According to Lange, such measures create 'uncertainty and unpredictability', whereas a trade agreement requires'certainty and predictability' to allow businesses and operators to plan for trade and investment. "We want a clear statement from the United States confirming that they intend to abide by the agreement, not just for a day or a week, but at least for the entire term of President Donald Trump," he added. The postponement of the vote by the Europarliament is described as 'only a postponement' and does not rule out a quick decision, but will depend on developments in Washington. A new meeting is scheduled for 4 March, when the situation could be reassessed in light of US moves.