WASHINGTON DC: The United States has announced new tariffs on imports from around 60 trading partners, citing their alleged failure to adequately prevent goods produced through forced labour from entering global supply chains.
The new duties, ranging from 10 percent to 12.5 percent, will take effect on Friday and apply to key US trading partners, including the United Kingdom, China, the European Union, Canada, Japan and India. The measures replace a temporary 10 percent tariff on foreign goods that had been in place earlier this year.
The decision marks the latest escalation in the global trade dispute revived by President Donald Trump following his return to office last year.
Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled that many tariffs imposed under emergency powers had been enacted unlawfully. In response, the Trump administration has pursued alternative legal mechanisms to advance its trade agenda.
Last month, the White House proposed imposing 10–12.5 percent tariffs on imports from dozens of countries, arguing that they had not taken sufficient action to prevent the import of goods produced with forced labour.
On Thursday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that the tariffs would now be implemented under President Trump’s directive.
“Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and a distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere,” Greer said in a statement.
The administration invoked Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which authorizes the US government to respond to foreign trade practices that unfairly burden or restrict American commerce.
Earlier this week, the administration also used Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose 50 percent tariffs on certain Canadian products.
According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, the latest tariffs target countries that have failed to prohibit and effectively enforce bans on imports made with forced labour.
The new duties cover the United States’ 60 largest trading partners, accounting for approximately 99.4 percent of all US imports.
The office said banning imports made with forced labour has become a key element of the Trump administration’s reciprocal trade policy. It noted that 10 trading partners have already agreed to adopt and enforce such prohibitions as part of bilateral trade agreements, while several others have introduced similar measures following US investigations.
Countries that have committed to adopting and effectively enforcing bans on forced labour imports will face a 10 percent tariff. Those that have not made such commitments will be subject to the higher 12.5 percent rate.
(Inputs from BBC)
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