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Several Countries Criticize U.S. Justification for New Tariffs
🇩🇰 Denmark /Economy & Trade

Several Countries Criticize U.S. Justification for New Tariffs

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Several countries, including Brazil, Norway, and Australia, are criticizing new U.S. tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, deeming them arbitrary and unjustified.
  • The U.S. claims the tariffs are a response to trading partners not prohibiting imports made with forced labor, a justification several nations dispute.
  • Brazil plans to challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organization, while Norway and Australia argue the U.S. is misusing trade policy and violating free trade agreements.

The United States' imposition of new tariffs on approximately 60 global trading partners, including the EU, has drawn sharp criticism from several nations who are challenging the administration's rationale. Brazil's government has labeled the move "arbitrary" and "unjustified," stating there is no legal basis in U.S. law to support such protectionist trade policies. The tariffs, ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent, are set to replace an earlier 10 percent tariff that expires soon.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer cited the failure of the targeted countries to implement and enforce a ban on goods produced by forced labor as the reason for the new duties. However, this justification has been met with strong disagreement. Norway, a non-EU member, expressed its "strong disagreement" with the U.S.'s unilateral use of tariffs and its stated reasoning. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that while Norway agrees with combating forced labor, the U.S. premise is "completely wrong."

Eide emphasized that Norway was among the first nations to establish clear requirements for responsible business conduct, specifically to prevent trade in goods produced through forced labor or severe human rights violations. Similarly, Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell argued that the tariffs on Australian goods are "unjustified, incompatible with our free trade agreement, and should be removed."

In response to the escalating trade dispute, Brazil has announced its intention to bring the new tariffs before the World Trade Organization (WTO). The international community's reaction highlights a growing tension over U.S. trade policies and their perceived disregard for established international trade norms and agreements.

Uden et juridisk grundlag i amerikansk lovgivning til at understøtte sin protektionistiske handelspolitik har den amerikanske handelsrepræsentant valgt at misbruge et emne af stor betydning for menneskerettigheder og arbejdstagerrettigheder

— Brasiliens regeringThe Brazilian government's statement criticizing the U.S. tariffs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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