The United States began collecting sharply higher import duties early Thursday after President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime took effect, extending levies of between 10% and 50% to goods from more than 90 countries. U.S. Customs and Border Protection started charging the new rates at 12:01 a.m. New York time, capping months of negotiations, reversals and last-minute diplomacy. Major trading partners that struck interim deals—including the European Union, Japan and South Korea—face a 15% baseline duty, while steeper charges apply elsewhere: 50% on Brazilian products, 39% on Swiss goods, 35% on Canadian shipments and 25% on imports from India, according to notices published by U.S. authorities. Merchandise already en route before the deadline may enter under previous tariffs until 5 October. The measures lift the average U.S. tariff rate to roughly 15–20%, the highest since World War II. The White House says the policy is designed to narrow trade deficits and coax manufacturers to relocate production to the United States. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has estimated that annual tariff revenue could exceed $300 billion. Economists and business groups warn the broader levies could accelerate inflation, disrupt supply chains and invite retaliation. Recent economic data already show slower hiring and firmer goods prices following earlier rounds of tariffs imposed in April. Further action remains on the table. Trump has threatened a 100% duty on imported semiconductors and signed an executive order adding a second 25% charge on Indian goods linked to New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, due to begin 27 August. A separate truce with China faces an Aug. 12 deadline, leaving open the prospect of still higher duties on the world’s second-largest economy.