US administration imposes 12.5% tariffs on Japan, 60 countries and regions

2026-07-23

Announces additional tariffs

The Trump administration on the 23rd said it would impose new additional tariffs on 60 countries and regions, including Japan. The tariff rate is 10% or 12.5%, with Japan set at 12.5% in principle. The tariffs will take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on the 24th (1:01 p.m. Japan time).

Ease the burden on Japan

For Japan, the measure includes relief so that the combined burden with existing tariffs does not exceed 12.5%. It will not be applied on top of auto tariffs or steel and aluminum tariffs.

Shifts legal basis to Section 301

The tariffs are based on Section 301 of the Trade Act, which was used as the basis for additional tariffs on China during the first Trump administration. This time, they are positioned as sanctions on countries whose bans on imports of products made with forced labor are inadequate. In February, the US Supreme Court ruled that reciprocal tariffs and other measures based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unconstitutional and invalid. The Trump administration plans to switch to a new legal basis and keep its flagship Trump tariffs policy in place.

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