Section 301 Decision from the US to 60 Countries: 12.5% Additional Customs Duty on Turkey

On July 23, 2026, U.S. President Donald J. Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the implementation of new trade measures against 60 economies following investigations conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

The investigations examined whether the economies concerned had failed to prohibit, or effectively enforce a prohibition on, the importation of goods produced wholly or in part with forced labor. Following its investigation, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) concluded that the acts, policies, and practices of the economies concerned were unreasonable and burdened or restricted U.S. commerce, making them actionable under Section 301.

Implications for Türkiye

Türkiye is among the 60 economies covered by the investigations. Pursuant to Section 1(a)(iii) of the Presidential Memorandum, imports into the United States of products originating in Türkiye that are not exempt under the Annex will be subject to an additional 12.5% ad valorem tariff under Section 301.

This tariff will apply in addition to any existing U.S. customs duties applicable to the imported products.

Tariff Structure by Economy

The Presidential Memorandum establishes three different tariff regimes.

10% Additional Tariff

A 10% Section 301 tariff will apply to imports from:

Argentina
Bangladesh
Cambodia
Canada
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Jordan
Malaysia
Mexico
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Trinidad and Tobago

These economies were assigned the lower tariff rate because they have enacted, committed to enact, or begun implementing measures related to prohibiting the importation of goods produced with forced labor.

European Union, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan

For these economies, the Memorandum does not establish a fixed Section 301 tariff.

Instead, pursuant to Section 1(a)(ii), the additional tariff will be calculated by taking the applicable Most-Favored Nation (MFN) duty into account so that the combined duty does not exceed:

10% for products of the European Union and Taiwan; and
12.5% for products of Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland.

12.5% Additional Tariff

All remaining economies covered by the investigations will be subject to an additional 12.5% Section 301 tariff. Türkiye falls within this category.

Exempted Products (Annex)

Pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Presidential Memorandum, the additional tariffs will not apply to all products. The exempt products are identified in the Annex to the Memorandum.

The exemptions generally include:

Raw materials for which additional tariffs could create domestic supply shortages;
Products whose tariffs could result in significant economy-wide disruptions;
Products that cannot be produced in sufficient quantities in the United States or sourced from alternative suppliers;
Products for which the tariffs would not materially contribute to eliminating the identified acts, policies, or practices; and
Certain products exempted to encourage specific economies to implement or effectively enforce prohibitions on imports of goods produced with forced labor.

Furthermore, Section 1(c) directs the USTR to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) to implement the exemptions set forth in the Annex.

Textile and Apparel Measures

Under Section 2 of the Presidential Memorandum, the USTR has been directed to establish Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) for Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

The TRQs are intended to permit specified quantities of textile and apparel products from these economies to enter the United States free of the additional Section 301 tariffs for an initial period of three years. Details regarding the implementation of the TRQs are expected to be announced by the USTR.

Assessment

These measures represent a significant expansion of the United States' trade policy aimed at addressing concerns related to goods produced with forced labor.

For Turkish exporters, products that are not included in the Annex exemptions will become subject to an additional 12.5% Section 301 tariff upon importation into the United States. Accordingly, companies exporting to the U.S. market should carefully review the Annex, assess whether their products qualify for an exemption, and closely monitor the corresponding amendments to the HTSUS and related implementation measures issued by the USTR.