Trump administration issues new tariffs affecting more than 80 countries, starting Friday

The Trump administration issued a new wave of tariffs on more than 80 countries late Thursday, with duties ranging from 10% to 12.5% set to take effect Friday morning, according to a report from The Guardian. The announcement comes just before a temporary tariff on broad global imports was due to expire, raising questions about how long-term trade policy will be set through Congress versus executive action.

The Guardian reported that the new tariffs are the administration’s latest effort to keep imposing global levies as an earlier, time-limited tariff arrangement approached its expiration. The article said the administration moved late Thursday, implying the timing was designed to prevent a gap in tariff coverage for affected imports.

While the Guardian did not provide a country-by-country breakdown in its summary, it described the measures as applying across more than 80 countries and said the rates vary within a 10% to 12.5% range. The report also said the tariffs begin on Friday morning, which would place importers and supply-chain operators under a new cost and compliance schedule immediately following the announcement window.

The practical effect of the Friday start date is that importers preparing shipments for arrival in the United States may face higher landed costs depending on how their goods are classified and which tariff rates apply. The tariff changes can also affect downstream pricing decisions for retailers and manufacturers, though the specific magnitude would depend on product mix and whether importers can reroute sourcing or absorb costs.

The timing also puts renewed focus on the constitutional and statutory boundary between congressional trade authority and executive use of emergency or existing trade powers. The Guardian characterized the administration’s move as an attempt to “circumvent Congress,” an allegation reflecting criticism that tariff policy should not be extended through executive action beyond time-limited arrangements.

The administration’s stated rationale and the precise legal mechanism for the new tariffs were not detailed in the Guardian summary provided. Because the central policy details such as statutory authority, scope by product line, and the legal basis for the start date were not included in the supplied material, further confirmation from official tariff documents or agency notices would be needed for a complete record of what authority is being cited and how implementation will work.

As Friday arrives, the next steps for affected companies will likely include tariff classification reviews, customs compliance planning, and adjustments to sourcing and contracting. For policymakers, the immediate question will be how the temporary levy’s expiration is handled and whether Congress takes up or constrains the ongoing tariff approach through legislation or oversight.