The United States is weighing the introduction of new tariff measures targeting 60 trading partners, following investigations into the alleged failure to prevent goods produced with forced labour from entering the US market.
According to a press release from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (Office of the United States Trade Representative), the proposed additional tariffs would be set at either 10% or 12.5%, depending on the trade partner’s level of enforcement and existing trade arrangements.
Under the proposal, a 10% tariff would apply to countries that already enforce forced-labour import prohibitions, have committed to such measures through reciprocal agreements, or maintain partial regimes that restrict certain forced-labour goods. This group includes Canada, Mexico, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Taiwan, according to a Federal Register notice.
A higher rate of 12.5% would apply to all other economies under investigation, including China, India, Brazil, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. China has already pushed back against the broader trade implications, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning warning that no country stands to benefit from a tariff war.
The USTR did not specify when the measures could come into force.
Several exemptions are also included in the proposal. These cover goods already subject to Section 232 tariffs, products compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), as well as raw materials deemed essential to avoid domestic supply shortages. Certain goods that cannot be sufficiently produced or grown in the United States are also excluded, with full details listed in an annex to the notice.
The measures originate from Section 301 investigations launched on 12 March. The USTR argues that insufficient enforcement by trading partners a
- Latest
- Trending
ADVERTISEMENT
