Bessent Says Trump’s Global Tariff Rate to Rise to 15% Within Days

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration plans to raise the temporary global import tariff to 15% this week as the White House rebuilds its broader trade enforcement strategy.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that the Trump administration is expected to increase the temporary global import tariff rate to 15 percent this week, up from the current 10 percent level imposed earlier this year.

Speaking during an interview on CNBC, Bessent said the higher tariff level ordered by President Donald Trump could be implemented within days.

“That’s likely sometime this week,” Bessent said when asked about the timeline for the 15 percent rate.

The administration introduced the temporary tariffs in late February after the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s previous global tariffs, which had been implemented under a national emergencies statute. In response, the White House invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, allowing the administration to impose tariffs for up to 150 days while broader trade actions are evaluated.

Under that authority, the administration initially set the rate at 10 percent.

Bessent said the temporary measure is intended to bridge the gap while federal agencies prepare longer-term tariff actions under other trade laws that have previously survived court scrutiny.

“During the 150 days, we will see studies from USTR on Section 301, tariffs from Commerce on Section 232,” Bessent said.

Section 301 of U.S. trade law allows the government to impose tariffs in response to unfair foreign trade practices, while Section 232 authorizes tariffs tied to national security concerns. Both authorities have been used in prior trade disputes and have withstood legal challenges.

Bessent said rebuilding the tariff framework through those channels would allow the administration to restore U.S. duty levels that existed before the Supreme Court ruling.

“They are slow moving, but they are more robust,” Bessent said, referring to tariffs enacted under Section 232 and Section 301.

According to Bessent, the process could return U.S. tariff rates to their previous levels within approximately five months as the administration works through the statutory reviews required under those trade authorities.