Tunisia spared from new U.S. tariffs on forced labor imports

Tunisia has been spared from a new U.S. trade measure that imposes additional duties on imports from economies accused of failing to effectively ban or prohibit goods produced by forced labor. The U.S. Trade Representative's office (USTR) announced the measure, which targets 60 economies globally.

The decision, driven by former President Donald Trump and detailed by USTR official Jamieson Greer, involves additional tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5%, depending on the economy and product category. For Tunisia, its absence from this list is a significant positive, especially given the increasingly stringent U.S. trade policies. This means the country will not face new tariff burdens specifically related to this procedure, which could have impacted its exports to the United States.

The USTR stated that this action follows months of investigations initiated in March 2026, examining the practices of 60 economies. These investigations included consultations with governments, public hearings, and the analysis of numerous written submissions. Washington views the lack of effective bans on forced labor imports as an unfair trade practice that harms American businesses and international competition.

While countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are among those facing additional duties, Tunisia's exclusion is noteworthy. Although this decision does not automatically alter all existing tariff conditions for Tunisian products exported to the U.S., it sends a favorable signal to Tunisian economic operators, particularly in export-oriented sectors such as textiles, industrial components, and manufactured goods. This development occurs within an international context of escalating trade tensions and measures.