The US Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday proposed new tariffs on imports from 60 economies, citing insufficient action against forced labor.
This initiative, part of the Trump administration’s renewed tariff strategy following recent legal challenges, targets countries allegedly failing to prevent the import of goods made with forced labor.
According to a government filing, the proposed tariffs would range from 10% to 12.5%. Before implementation, the proposal will undergo a public comment period.
This move follows months of US investigations into major trading partners—including China, the European Union, and Japan—to determine whether they have enforced restrictions on goods produced with forced labor and whether their actions have affected US commerce.
On Tuesday, the USTR announced that 54 economies, including China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom, had “failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition.” Six others—Canada, Ecuador, the EU, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan—were found not to have effectively enforced such restrictions.
“Our most important trading partners’ failure to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable,” USTR Jamieson Greer stated. “This puts American workers at a disadvantage, forcing them to compete on an uneven global playing field.”
The proposed tariffs include exemptions for products such as beef, coffee, and certain fruits and nuts. Goods from Canada and Mexico that comply with the North American free trade agreement, as well as specific textiles and apparel, will also be exempt.
The public may submit written comments on the proposal until July 6, after which the USTR will hold public hearings.
The new tariff plan follows a February Supreme Court decision invalidating several of President Trump’s earlier tariffs. In response, US officials initiated a series of new trade investigations aimed at establishing more durable duties. In addition to the forced labor probes, the USTR is also investigating issues related to global excess industrial capacity.
Source: AFP
