The Trump administration has proposed new tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, arguing that the countries have not done enough to prevent goods made with forced labour from entering global supply chains. The proposal was announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative as part of a trade investigation under Section 301 of U.S. trade law. Under the plan, imports from a group of countries including Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom would face additional duties of 10%, while another group that includes China, India and Japan could be subject to tariffs of 12.5%. The measures remain under review and will be subject to a public consultation process before any final decision is made.
Several governments have rejected the U.S. findings, arguing that they have already taken steps to address forced labour concerns and strengthen supply-chain oversight. Critics of the proposal have also questioned whether tariffs are an effective tool for combating forced labour, warning that the move could create uncertainty for businesses and increase trade tensions.
