Trump’s 10% Global Tariffs Take Effect Despite Announced 15% Rate
Feb. 24, 2026 — Washington President Donald Trump’s administration rolled out a 10% global tariff on imports from every country at 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday, despite the president’s announcement over the weekend that the rate would be 15%.
The tariffs, imposed under Section 122 of U.S. trade law, apply for an initial 150 days unless exemptions are granted. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection memo confirmed the 10% starting rate hours before implementation, even as a White House official noted efforts to issue a separate order raising it to 15%, pending President Trump’s signature.
Legal Basis and Background
The move follows a Supreme Court decision striking down much of the administration’s prior tariff agenda, which relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. The new tariffs invoke Section 122, allowing up to 15% duties for 150 days to address “fundamental international payment problems.”
A White House fact sheet issued earlier detailed the temporary import duty as part of broader trade efforts. Trump initially announced the 10% rate Friday before posting on Truth Social Saturday to elevate it to 15% “effective immediately.”
International Reactions
The back-and-forth has sown confusion among trading partners and businesses. Bernd Lange, a top European Union lawmaker from Germany, posted on X:
Pure tariff chaos from the U.S. administration. No one can make sense of it anymore — only open questions and growing uncertainty.
The European Union froze implementation of a major trade deal with the U.S. earlier Monday. Countries including India, China, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are assessing responses, per reports from NBC News and Bloomberg.
Economic Uncertainty
Markets and importers face renewed volatility early in Trump’s second term. The Financial Times noted the 10% levy proceeds despite a recent announcement adjustment after legal hurdles. Additional coverage from The Guardian and Yahoo Finance highlighted the tariffs’ immediate activation amid threats of escalation.
The policy aims to rebuild U.S. trade protections but has revived descriptions of trade “chaos,” according to observers.
