US unveils new tariffs on 60 partners over forced labor concerns

The United States announced Thursday it will impose new tariffs on 60 trading partners, citing concerns over forced labor. The levies, effective Friday, will range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent and affect major economies such as China, India, and the European Union.

"The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it's well past time for our trading partners to do the same," said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. This action replaces an expiring global duty initially implemented by former President Donald Trump earlier this year.

The Trump administration is rebuilding the president's tariff strategy after the Supreme Court struck down several duties in February, limiting his ability to impose steep levies. Following that setback, Trump utilized different authorities to reimpose a 10 percent tariff on imports, but this measure was temporary and set to expire Friday.

The new duties, proposed in June, are considered more resistant to legal challenges than previous measures. Economies that have implemented a forced labor prohibition will face the lower 10 percent rate, including Canada, the EU, and the United Kingdom. Countries like China and Japan will receive the higher 12.5 percent tariff.

Goods already subject to Trump's sector-specific tariffs, such as steel and aluminum, will not be affected. Additionally, goods entering under the US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact are exempt. Washington is also investigating 16 economies for excess industrial capacity, which could lead to further duties.

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The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it's well past time for our trading partners to do the same.