US Imposes Sweeping New Tariffs, Driving Global Trade Intervention to Record Highs

The United States has implemented extensive new Section 301 tariffs on its top 60 trading partners, impacting over 99% of US imports with duties largely ranging from 10% to 12.5%. This action contributes to a record surge in global trade policy intervention in early 2026, primarily driven by restrictive measures such as tariff hikes and import bans, according to new data from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The move has also prompted a lawsuit from 25 Democratic-led states challenging the administration's authority.