International community criticizes US tariff policy for exacerbating global trade uncertainty

On February 21st, US President Trump posted on social media that his decision to increase the "global import tariff" on goods imported to the US from 10% to 15%, announced the day before, is "immediately effective". Trump said that based on the review of the ruling of the US Supreme Court, the "tariff rates on multiple countries around the world" will be immediately raised from 10% to 15%. In the coming months, the US government will determine and issue new 'legal tariffs'.

The US Supreme Court announced a ruling on the 20th, determining that the US International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose large-scale tariffs. Later that day, Trump signed an executive order confirming the termination of the relevant tariff measures previously invoked under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. On that day, Trump also announced the imposition of "global import tariffs" under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. According to US media reports, this clause has never been used before.

The questioning of this round of tariff policies in the United States continues to rise, believing that this move will further exacerbate market turbulence, and the ultimate cost will be borne by the American people and businesses. The US Consumer News and Business Channel pointed out that the tariff decision further amplified market anxiety and kept business operations in a state of uncertainty. The New York Times stated that since 2025, the aggressive and volatile tariff threats from the United States have strained allied relations, caused global market turbulence, and forced American businesses and consumers to bear some of the import tariff costs. According to calculations by the US Tax Foundation, the tariffs imposed by the US government in 2025 will increase the tax burden on each American household by an average of about $1000. Yale Law School professor Natasha Salin said that since 2025, the actual tariff rates in the United States have changed more than 60 times, and the continuous policy swings have made it difficult for ordinary households to plan their budgets. Companies are unable to set prices, purchase inventory, or expand their business, and this uncertainty has become a huge obstacle to economic development.

The European Commission issued a statement on the 22nd stating that the current actions of the United States are not conducive to achieving "fair, balanced, and reciprocal" transatlantic trade. It demanded that the United States provide a "completely clear" explanation of the latest tariff measures and warned that unpredictable tariff policies will seriously undermine global market confidence. Bernd Lange, the chairman of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee, bluntly stated that the US increase in tariffs has caused "pure tariff chaos", and the European Parliament's International Trade Committee has considered postponing the vote on the European American trade agreement originally scheduled for February 24th.

Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated that the ruling of the US Supreme Court is in line with Canada's long-standing position that the tariffs imposed by the US under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are "unreasonable". Carlo Dade, director of the International Policy and New North America Initiative at the University of Calgary in Canada, said that the US arbitrarily imposed tariffs under the pretext of a so-called state of emergency, and the damage caused by this uncertainty is far greater than the actual tariffs imposed. The threat of tariffs that may change at any time will make companies lose the ability to adjust their operations.

The S ã o Paulo newspaper quoted Giorson Sampaio, an economics professor at the Brazilian Vargas Foundation, as saying that the Trump administration's move to raise tariffs will bring uncertainty to the US economy.  

The Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry issued a statement on the 22nd stating that it is in communication with relevant US agencies to clarify the implementation details of the new round of tariffs. Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Yan Jinyong, stated that Singapore needs to be prepared for the "fundamental changes" in the global trade environment, and the "uncertainty" in the trade sector will be a long-term state. Singapore's Minister of Public Services and Defence, Chan Chun sing, stated that the uncertainty brought about by tariffs and trade frictions will directly and indirectly impact Singapore's economic ecology. If corporate investment continues to decline, it may have a significant impact on the job market in the long run.

The Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Trade Commission, Puji Aranwatanon, stated that US trade policy has entered a highly uncertain stage. The US has announced an increase in the "global import tariff" rate from 10% to 15%, which will increase pressure on exporting countries including Thailand. The President of the Federation of Thai Industries, Krinklai Tinnoukul, said that multiple industries in Thailand will be directly affected by "global import tariffs", which will weaken the competitiveness of related industries in Thailand against the backdrop of slowing global demand.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar stated on the 22nd that the government is closely monitoring the legal developments regarding tariff rulings in the United States, and Malaysia is maintaining coordination with Washington and its ASEAN partners. Chen Dingyao, Chairman of the Malaysian Electrical and Electronics Association, revealed that previous tariff policies have brought uncertainty to industry planning and pricing. The new round of measures has further intensified the challenges, and local small and medium-sized enterprises exporting to the United States have been significantly impacted. Many enterprises have begun to reduce the impact of tariffs through diversification of export markets and redesigning product combinations.