US customs rolls out new 10% global tariff

The United States Customs and Border Protection has rolled out the 10 per cent tariff duties imposed on all imports which are not covered by exemptions. A US Customs notice, which is described as intended to “provide guidance regarding the February 20, 2026 Presidential Proclamation”, said imports would be subject to “an additional ad valorem rate of 10%”, Reuters reported. However, this rate is lower than the 15 per cent duties promised earlier by US President Donald Trump. After the US Supreme Court's ruling deemed earlier tariffs imposed by Trump using emergency powers as “illegal”, the President had announced 10 per cent additional tariffs on imports from all countries on Friday. The next day, Trump decided to increase this to 15 per cent.
Meanwhile, European Union lawmakers postponed a vote to ratify the EU's trade deal with the US, saying it needs "full clarity" on Trump's next steps before proceeding. Later, an assessment from the bloc found that Trump's newly instituted tariff likely violates the agreement. 
Japan's Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa has asked the US to ensure that new tariff measures would not leave Tokyo with harsher conditions than those agreed in last year's trade agreement.
Trump is applying the 10% baseline levy under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which allows the president to impose the charge for 150 days without congressional approval. He turned to this approach after the court ruled he violated an emergency-powers law by using it to enact his so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on goods from countries worldwide.