• Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 authorizes the President to take action, in the form of tariffs, tariff rate quotas, quantitative restrictions or other actions, in response to an ITC determination that increased imports are a substantial cause of serious injury to domestic producers. Under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on imported large residential washing machines and imported solar cells and modules, marking the first time the United States has imposed global safeguard restrictions since 2002. Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974—Allows the President to impose temporary duties and other trade measures if the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determines a surge in imports is a substantial cause or threat of serious injury to a U.S. industry.