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The global customs landscape saw major shifts this week dominated by sweeping new US global tariffs under Section 301, the chaotic aftermath of the EU’s newly ended de minimis exemption, and a surge in multinational anti-smuggling crackdowns. 

On July 23, 2026, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) shook global markets by replacing its temporary Section 122 duties with a permanent Section 301 framework imposing new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% targeting 60 countries. 

• The Scope: These new tariffs now cover 99% of all US goods imports.
• The Justification: Washington cited a lack of effective controls or prohibitions on forced labor within the targeted nations.
• The Scale: Low-tier countries face a 10% rate, while a 12.5% tariff hits nations like China and Vietnam. Lawsuits against the action have already been filed by importers, and an additional 50% tariff on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports is scheduled for August 19, 2026.
• De Minimis Crackdown: Concurrently, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enacted an interim final rule on July 24, 2026, codifying the suspension of de minimis exemptions for international mail shipments