The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday proposed new tariffs targeting 60 economies over alleged failures to take action against forced labour, as the Trump administration moves to rebuild its tariff framework following recent legal setbacks.
The proposed duties, ranging from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent, were outlined in a government filing and will undergo a public comment period before a final decision is taken.
The move follows months of investigations into several trading partners, including China, the European Union and Japan, examining whether they had taken adequate steps to block imports of goods linked to forced labour and whether such products were affecting US commerce.
In its filing, the USTR said 54 economies “failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition.” The list includes China, Vietnam, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
Six other economies — Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan — were also cited for not effectively enforcing such prohibitions.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable,” USTR Jamieson Greer said in a statement.
“This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,” he added.
The proposed measures include several exemptions, covering products such as beef, coffee, and certain fruits and nuts.
Goods from Canada and Mexico that comply with the North American free trade agreement will also be exempt, alongside selected textiles and apparel products.
The USTR said the public may submit written comments until July 6, after which hearings will be held.
The initiative comes after the US Supreme Court struck down a broad set of tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump’s administration in February, prompting officials to pursue new trade actions aimed at establishing more durable duties.
Alongside the forced labour-related measures, the USTR has also launched separate investigations into global excess industrial capacity.
AFP
