U.S. Signals Reimposition of Global Tariffs Set to End in July

The Donald Trump administration plans to extend the imposition of its 10% universal global tariff even after the legal deadline expires in July. It says Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 does not contain any explicit provision prohibiting the tariff from being reinstated after it lapses.
On the 26th local time, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, attended an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and said the administration could continue imposing tariffs after July because Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 does not explicitly bar them from being reactivated after expiration.
Greer said at the event, "If you look at Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, it specifies the tariff's expiration date, but it does not place any limits on when it can be used again." He added that he believes the legal authority exists to reimpose the tariff after it expires.
Earlier, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the existing 'reciprocal tariff' measures were illegal, President Donald Trump invoked Section 122 in February to impose a 10% universal global tariff. Tariffs under Section 122 can remain in place for up to 150 days unless U.S. Congress extends the deadline, so they are set to expire in July.
The Trump administration had originally said it would use other legal authorities to impose replacement tariffs once the Section 122 measures expire in July. However, Greer's remarks suggest that, apart from introducing alternative tariffs, the option of 'reactivating' the existing universal tariff under Section 122 remains on the table.
jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-jun Reporter