The White House is set to announce new Section 301 tariffs on industrial overcapacity targeting 16 economies, including China and Japan, Nikkei Asia reported on 4 November 2026. The tariffs have not been announced yet in the reporting seen: Nikkei describes them as set to be announced, after President Donald Trump held off unveiling them before the midterm vote to avoid trade friction worsening inflation. The reported rate for Chinese imports is 7.5%. Rates for the other economies are not specified in the Nikkei report, beyond the expectation that they could be similar or lower.The new duties would stack on top of existing tariffs of 10% to 12.5% imposed on about 60 countries over forced-labour concerns. Combined, Nikkei notes, the measures would effectively restore tariff rates for several key trading partners to levels seen before the Supreme Court in February struck down sweeping tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The investigations behind the planned tariffs began on 11 March 2026, when the US Trade Representative opened Section 301 investigations into the acts, policies and practices of 16 economies over structural excess capacity and overproduction in manufacturing. The economies named are China, the European Union, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan and India. Sectors under review range from solar panels and chemicals to autos.Nikkei’s live midterm coverage adds market context: Nomura economists expect more aggressive trade headlines after the elections, including possible tariffs stemming from the Section 301 excess-capacity investigations, and note the administration is expected to use executive powers on tariffs regardless of which party controls Congress. Goldman Sachs chief China economist Hui Shan is quoted as saying the duties would stoke renewed tensions between Beijing and Washington in the next two years, and that a Congress with greater Democratic control may introduce new hawkish measures on China. What remains unconfirmed: the announcement date, the full rate schedule, and any White House confirmation beyond Nikkei’s sourcing. The 7.5% China figure and the ‘set to announce’ timing are attributed to Nikkei’s reporting, not to a published White House statement. Readers should treat this as a reported plan, not a tariff already in force.FAQ: Have the tariffs been imposed? No — Nikkei reports they are set to be announced; no announcement or rate schedule has been published in the reporting seen. Which economies are covered? The 16 under Section 301 investigation since March: China, the EU, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan and India. What rate is reported for China? 7.5%, according to Nikkei, stacking on existing 10% to 12.5% forced-labour duties.
Related reading: Trump to Impose 10% Tariffs on Eight Countries Over Greenland | Trump Imposes Tariffs on Canada After Anti-Tariff Ad Campaign | Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Reciprocal Tariffs
Sources
- Nikkei: Democrats win control of Congress in sharp rebuke to Trump
- Third World Network: TWN WTO information, 13 March 2026
