US Trade Representative Greer laid out Washington’s position on replacement tariffs, consultations with trade partners, and the legal authorities still available to respond to trade disputes. As those remarks reached markets, Bitcoin rebounded to $66,000, a move that coincided with easing concern over the prospect of another trade war.
Greer said the administration has contacted trade partners to explain how replacement tariffs fit within existing agreements. Hearings and consultations are expected to determine whether any of those agreements need to be changed. He added that tariffs for some countries could rise to as much as 15%, while new probes are already examining industrial overcapacity and forced labor in supply chains.
Washington signals no change to current China tariff levels
A key part of Greer’s message was that the US intends to honor the prior China agreement and does not expect current tariff levels on China to change. That point drew attention because digital assets tend to react quickly to shifts in global macro policy, especially when trade friction becomes part of the pricing picture.
Greer also said anti-discrimination provisions in US trade law could support Washington’s position in some cases. For now, the question of whether replacement tariffs require broader revisions to existing trade arrangements appears tied to consultation and hearing processes rather than an immediate policy reset.
Section 122 allows tariffs up to 15% for 150 days
Greer pointed to several legal tools that remain available even as court scrutiny increases: Section 122 and Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. In his framing, these provisions still give the administration room to respond to developments in international commerce.
Section 122 permits the US president to impose additional tariffs of up to 15% on all imports or imports from selected countries for as long as 150 days if there is a “serious disruption” in the balance of payments. Greer described it as a broad emergency-style authority. He said that if courts restrict the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Section 122 could still be activated quickly on grounds of economic security, with the final decision resting with the president.
Section 301 and 232 cover retaliation and national security reviews
Section 301 authorizes retaliatory action against countries engaged in unjustifiable, unreasonable, or discriminatory trade practices, including forced technology transfers and intellectual property violations. Any move under Section 301 requires a formal investigation before punitive duties are imposed, and the authority sits with the Office of the US Trade Representative. The report also noted that Greer’s team has used this route before to place multi-billion-dollar tariffs on Chinese goods.
Section 232, by contrast, is handled through Commerce Department investigations into whether imports threaten national security. If such a threat is found, the president can impose tariffs or quotas without a stated cap. Greer supports a broad reading of national security, extending it beyond military goods to strategic industries such as steel and semiconductors.
The current message from Washington is mixed but clear in structure: calm markets where possible, keep the tariff tools in place, and continue the review process. Bitcoin’s rebound came as those signals were being absorbed.