The Donald Trump administration has officially announced a sweeping new set of tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on 60 designated trading partners—encompassing over 80 individual countries when accounting for the European Union—to replace expiring temporary duties.
However, prominent University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers warns that while this latest framework may survive judicial scrutiny, it "will still fail our country" and represents a "new wrapper, same rotten policy." A Fresh Wrapper for an Ongoing Trade War Rolled out hours before a 10% temporary global surcharge expired under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, the administration's new measures rely on Section 301 investigation powers centered on forced-labor enforcement.
Though legally distinct, the strategy covers more than 99% of U.S. imports.
Analyzing the move, Wolfers noted that the White House switched strategies after previous emergency-style tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court.
He explained that the Administration may have gotten the law right, but they still got the economics wrong.
