Washington: The administration of Donald Trump is preparing to selectively raise global tariffs from 10 per cent to 15 per cent or higher on imports from certain countries, while refraining from increasing duties on Chinese goods for the time being.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Wednesday that the recently introduced 10 per cent tariff on imports could be increased to 15 per cent for some countries, and potentially higher for others. However, he did not specify which nations would be affected.
In an interview with Fox Business Network programme “Mornings with Maria”, Greer indicated that the administration does not currently plan to escalate tariffs on Chinese imports beyond existing levels. The decision comes as President Trump is expected to visit China in the coming weeks.
From 10 per cent to 15 per cent
The 10 per cent tariff, imposed earlier this week, was introduced under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 as a temporary measure. It followed a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that invalidated certain emergency tariffs previously imposed by the administration.
“Right now, we have the 10 per cent tariff. It’ll go up to 15 per cent for some and then it may go higher for others, and I think it will be in line with the types of tariffs we’ve been seeing,” Greer said, according to a report by Reuters.
Later, speaking on Bloomberg TV, Greer said the White House is preparing a proclamation to increase the temporary tariffs to 15 per cent “where appropriate”. He added that the administration intends to accommodate countries that already have trade agreements in place, though he did not elaborate on how such accommodations would be structured.
Legal route and trade investigations
Greer stressed that the administration would follow due legal process while implementing the tariff hikes, acknowledging that such measures frequently face legal challenges.
“Any time we put on a tariff, we’re going to have foreign interests who want to bring it down. So people are going to sue us,” he said.
He noted that investigations under Section 301 of the same law would form the backbone of the administration’s new approach. These probes target countries accused of unfair trade practices, including maintaining excess industrial capacity, using forced labour in supply chains, discriminating against US technology firms, or providing heavy subsidies to sectors such as rice and seafood.
According to Greer, the administration has repeatedly raised concerns about surplus industrial capacity with Chinese officials. He said some Chinese firms continue to operate despite being unprofitable, due to government support.
“I don’t think they’re going to resolve that problem fully, and that’s part of why we need to have tariffs on China and Vietnam and other countries that have this problem,” he said.
However, he clarified that the US does not intend to escalate beyond the current tariff rates agreed upon with China. “We don’t intend to escalate beyond rates that are currently in place. We intend to really stick to the deal that we have with them,” he added.
Century-old law may be invoked
Greer also pointed to Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a nearly century-old provision that remains legally valid. The section permits the US to impose tariffs of up to 50 per cent on imports from countries that treat American goods less favourably than those from other nations.
While no decision has been announced regarding the use of Section 338, its mention signals that the administration is keeping broader legal options open as it recalibrates its trade policy.
Implications for global trade
The proposed tariff hike comes at a sensitive time for global trade, which has already been strained by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and protectionist policies. A selective increase to 15 per cent or more could affect export-dependent economies and potentially invite retaliatory measures.
At the same time, the decision to hold off on raising tariffs against China suggests a cautious approach aimed at preserving a fragile trade truce between the world’s two largest economies.
As the White House prepares its formal proclamation, markets and trading partners will be closely watching the list of affected countries and sectors. The coming weeks are likely to determine whether the policy shift leads to renewed trade friction or a managed adjustment within existing agreements.