US moves to impose additional tariffs on 60 countries over forced labor allegations
The United States administration is preparing to impose new tariffs of 10% or more on imports from dozens of trading partners following an investigation into goods allegedly produced using forced labor, in a move that could further strain global trade relations.
According to a report released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (Office of the United States Trade Representative), around 60 economies have been found to have failed to effectively enforce bans on importing products linked to forced labor.
The agency described the situation as creating an “unlevel playing field” for American businesses and workers, arguing that US producers are being subjected to unfair global competition.
“This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field. We will no longer tolerate this disparity,” said US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer in the report.
The proposed tariff measures are not yet final and are currently open for public consultation and review, meaning they will not take immediate effect, according to dw.com.
Under the current proposal, imports from countries including Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and European Union member states could face an additional 10% tariff, based on findings that these economies have either partially enforced or committed to restrictions on forced labor goods.
A higher tariff level of 12.5% has been suggested for approximately 45 other countries, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and Switzerland, which the USTR says have not adequately enforced prohibitions on such imports.
Officials argue that the measures are intended to strengthen global compliance and prevent forced labor from distorting international trade flows, which they say harms US manufacturers both domestically and abroad.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative noted that the probe, launched in March, covered 60 separate investigations into labor practices across global supply chains.
A public hearing on the proposed tariff structure is scheduled for July 7, where stakeholders and affected countries are expected to present their positions.
Meanwhile, the move comes at a sensitive moment in US trade diplomacy. Negotiations with several partners are ongoing, including discussions with the European Union and India over broader trade agreements and tariff reductions.
If implemented, the new measures could significantly reshape existing trade arrangements and add fresh tension to already delicate negotiations between Washington and its key economic partners.
