Today, Ambassador Greer is taking action, at President Trump’s direction, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 by imposing tariffs on 60 trading partners for their failure to adopt and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor.…
— United States Trade Representative (@USTradeRep) July 23, 2026
The Trump Administration announced a new set of tariffs:
Trump administration imposes new tariffs on dozens of countries, citing forced labor concerns
July 24, 2026
The Trump administration imposed tariffs of up to 12.5% Friday on goods from 60 U.S. trading partners it accused of failing to crack down on forced labor. The move, announced Thursday, extended the administration’s tariffs on much of the world.
Most of the trading partners are facing 12.5% tariffs, including Vietnam and China, but a lower 10% rate applies to 17 countries that have some prohibitions on forced labor, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico. Five other trading partners — including the European Union — are facing some additional levy to get their total most-favored-nation tariff rate to either 10% or 12.5%.
A senior administration official described the measure as “the most sweeping international labor rights action the United States has ever taken, that any country has ever taken.” …
The new tariffs went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, when a separate set of 10% levies on most imports expired.
The forced labor duties mark the latest attempt by President Trump to resurrect his global system of tariffs after a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year struck down most of his country-by-country tariffs. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tariffs-dozens-countries-forced-labor/
Many nations are upset, though the EU seems relieved:
24 July 2026
“The EU notes positively the fact that this outcome is in line with the US tariff commitments agreed under the EU-US Joint Statement,” said a commission spokesman.
Those commitments saw the EU agree to drop import taxes on US industrial goods, while Washington leveled 15% across the board tariffs on most EU products.
The commission’s optimism appears to be based on the fact that the new tariffs were not added to existing “most-favored nation” fees and also maintain previously negotiated EU exemptions.
How have countries reacted to the latest US tariffs?
Brazil, whose exports to the United States will be subject to a 12.5% tariff under the new measure, called the decision “completely arbitrary” and “unjustified.”
The government warned that it would immediately initiate procedures to trigger countermeasures under its “Reciprocity Law” and take the issue before the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism.
Meanwhile, Australia‘s Defense Minister Richard Marles told ABC Radio that the new tariffs made “no sense” and that the government was disappointed with the move.
Under the measures, import duties for Australian goods will rise from 10% to 12.5%.
Japan also said it “regrets” the move, with a government spokesperson insisting that its “industry and trade are conducted in accordance with international rules.” https://www.dw.com/en/us-to-impose-forced-labor-tariffs-on-many-trading-partners/a-78092136
There are reports that the BRCIS+ nations are upset, and that the EU has taken a different path than the USA because of its Mercosur (and other) trade deals.
Notice also:
July 24, 2026
The levies are likely to raise costs for businesses and consumers, although its impact could be softened due to the number of exempted goods, said the Asia Society Policy Institute’s economic security expert Wendy Cutler.
She added most trading partners would be disappointed with the new levies and were likely to focus on ways to “reduce their dependence on the US” by making deals with other countries. https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/us-announces-fresh-raft-tariffs-212749018.html
Now notice some items warned about in my free eBook Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:
Donald Trump’s foreign policy statements have unsettled many—in the USA as well as foreign nations. …
The Bible teaches about a great power who will be destroyed by its friends, who become enemies (Lamentations 1:1-2)—some statements by Donald Trump are pushing “friends” (NATO allies) into being enemies. …
The Bible is clear that there will be problems in Europe (Daniel 11:41-43), yet it also shows that Europe will undergo several reorganizations (Revelation chapters 16-18), and the two reorganizations in Revelation 17:12-13 specifically will not turn out well for the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39) or the Arab world (cf. Daniel 11:40-43). …
Unintended Consequences
While Donald Trump seems to believe that his policies are best for the United States, notice some unintended consequences of them: …
- Pushing tariffs and sanctions on other countries is contributing to the rise of the final time of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24; Ezekiel 7:24).
- Pushing tariffs and other policies that foreign nations do not like is contributing to other nations looking to bypass the USA dollar, as well as trade more with each other and less with the USA. This will further push various globalist’s moves forward without the USA. This is also helping set the stage for the coming European Babylonian Beast to dominate international trade.
Statements and policies by the Trump Administration have strained relations between the USA and other nations, as well as motivated the EU to make/finalize deals it has been hesitant to.
In December of 2025, I wrote the following in the article 26 items to prophetically watch in 2026:
For a time, Babylon will dominate world trade:
2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” (Revelation 18:2-3).
While ‘Babylon’ will not fully reign in 2026, with the USA pulling out of trade deals and/or wishing to change them, steps are occurring that are pushing Europe to dominate trade (watch Trade Wars: Are COG warnings coming to pass?).
Expect Europe to reach out to various Gentile nations in Asia, Africa, South America, and elsewhere to make trade deals.
The final time of the Gentiles is approaching. We are seeing BRICS, the Global South, the EU, and others working on ways to trade and not have to deal with the descendants of Ephraim (UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) and Manasseh (the USA).
The Europeans will work with many nations to secure stronger trade agreements. …
On 2/27/25, Ursula von der Leyen went to India to push for closer trade ties for reasons including Donald Trump’s tariff pushing (https://www.dw.com/en/von-der-leyen-arrives-in-india-to-strengthen-partnership/a-71768504).
In order for Europe to become the dominate world trading ‘Babylon the Great’ power that the Bible points to, major trade deals around the world must be expected.
This third round of tariffs from the Trump Administration (which is in addition to various individual actions, like against Canada) is pushing more nations to figure out how to trade less with the USA and more with each other.
Last year, the Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel discussing various views and scriptures about Donald Trump, Europe, and trade:
Trade Wars – and the Winner will be …
US President Trump imposed tariffs on a global scale. Those tariffs were imposed on friend and foe alike. It seems as if President Trump is no respecter of nations. But how will this work out for the United States? Will these tariffs result in other nations drawing closer together that have had rather cold, and even not so cold, relations in the past? Will global tariffs result in trade wars? Were the events which are happening predicted by any in the Continuing Church of God? Is Europe drawing closer to China? Is Europe drawing closer to Latin and South America? With the exception of a few of America’s allies, is the net result of these tariffs a worldwide scramble to create new alliances and new trading partners to the exclusion of the United States? What will be the future result of these new alliances? Many of the nations that are now seeking new alliances were just recently America’s allies. They were her friends. Dr. Thiel brings to light the fate of America and her allies at the hands of her former friends, as revealed in the book of Lamentations. As we rapidly approach the end times listen in as Dr. Thiel brings to light world events. Then listen as he shines the light of Bible prophecy directly on the questions raised from these world events.
Here is a link to our video: Trade Wars – and the Winner will be …
Church of God warnings on trade are coming to pass.
In the Continuing Church of God:
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19, KJV)
We continue to see international affairs that are aligning with properly explained biblical prophecies.
The world will not remain as it has been.
The end-time Babylonian European Beast will rise up.
We are seeing steps right now.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
WTO and the Babylonian Beast Is world trade changing? Has Donald Trump affected it? Is Europe now taking steps that are pushing it towards being the end-time Babylonian Beast trading power that the Bible warns about? This article addresses those issues. Two other videos of related interest may be Trade Wars: Are COG warnings coming to pass? and Trade Disputes: CCOG Warnings Are Coming to Pass.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen? This is a free eBook.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.