President Trump’s 10% global tariffs imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 are set to expire at 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 24, 2026, marking the end of a temporary trade measure that has shaped import costs for American businesses over the past five months.
The tariffs took effect on February 24, 2026, after the Trump administration invoked Section 122 authority following a Supreme Court decision that struck down earlier tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Section 122 grants the president authority to impose temporary tariffs of up to 15 percent on most imports for a maximum of 150 days to address balance-of-payments concerns, according to the Trade Act of 1974. The 150-day window expires automatically on July 24 unless Congress passes legislation to extend the tariffs beyond that date.
A legal challenge to the tariffs reached the U.S. Court of International Trade on May 7, 2026, when the court ruled that Trump’s 10% global tariff was unlawful. However, a federal appeals court temporarily allowed the tariffs to remain in effect while the case proceeded, keeping the levies operative through the July 24 deadline.
The expiration carries significant economic implications. If the Section 122 tariffs expire as scheduled and no replacement tariffs are immediately introduced, the average effective U.S. tariff rate could fall from approximately 13 percent to 7 percent overnight, according to trade analysts. This dramatic shift would represent a substantial reduction in import costs for American importers and consumers.
Congress would need to act to extend the tariffs beyond their statutory 150-day limit. The Trump administration has indicated it may pursue alternative tariff authorities—including Section 301 tariffs targeting specific countries and Section 232 tariffs on national security grounds—to maintain tariff protections if Section 122 expires, according to trade policy experts and administration statements. The administration has separately launched a series of investigations into potential sector-specific tariffs that could take effect after July 24.
Sources
- Snell & Wilmer — Section 122 tariff effective date, expiration date, and 150-day limit
- Transport Topics — Section 122 authorization and July 24 expiration date
- Nakachi Eckhardt & Jacobson — Precise expiration time: 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 24, 2026
- The White House — Section 122 authority and 10% tariff proclamation
- ASIL (American Society of International Law) — Court of International Trade ruling on May 7, 2026, invalidating Section 122 tariffs
- Ward and Smith, P.A. — Court ruling and appeal status
- IndustrialSage — Average effective tariff rate falling from 13 percent to 7 percent
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP — Administration’s array of alternative tariff authorities
- Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck — Administration’s separately launched investigations into sector-specific tariffs
