U.S. proposes tariffs of 10% or more on imports from dozens of countries over forced labor concerns
The Trump administration proposed new tariffs on imports from dozens of countries, targeting products suspected of being made with forced labor. The plan, released in Washington late Tuesday, calls for 16 economies, including Canada, Mexico, the European Union, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom, to face 10% levies. Several other nations, such as China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Switzerland, would be subject to 12.5% import taxes, according to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office.
The tariffs are part of President Donald Trump’s effort to recover revenue lost after the Supreme Court struck down global tariffs he imposed last year. The administration said the new tariffs are intended to pressure trading partners to enforce bans on forced labor, which the USTR characterized as unacceptable and unfair to U.S. workers.
The proposed tariffs will not take effect immediately. They are subject to public comment and review, with hearings scheduled to begin July 7. The administration said it would exempt certain products, including aircraft parts, food, and rare earth minerals, from the tariffs to minimize economic disruption.
Reactions to the proposal were immediate. China dismissed the forced labor allegations, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning calling for dialogue and asserting that forced labor does not exist in China. The move reflects the Trump administration’s broader strategy of imposing tariffs despite legal challenges in courts. Last February, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump overstepped his authority in imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Since then, the administration has used other legal authorities, such as Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, to impose tariffs. Trade lawyer Ryan Majerus said the new tariffs are expected to be ready by the time temporary tariffs expire next month, noting that the investigation into forced labor is progressing faster than typical cases.
In addition to the forced labor probe, the administration is pursuing another Section 301 investigation into whether 16 U.S. trading partners are overproducing goods, driving down prices and harming U.S. manufacturers. The new report also describes forced labor as work obtained under threat or penalty, with estimates from the UN suggesting 27.6 million people worldwide are engaged in forced labor as of 2021. The report highlights products like rice from Myanmar, tobacco from Malawi, beef from Brazil, and cotton from China as potential items involving forced labor. The U.S. has long criticized imports from China’s Xinjiang region, which Beijing denies using forced labor.
Critics argue that the tariffs are a pretext for reinstating global duties that have faced legal hurdles. European officials, including Bernd Lange of the European Parliament, accused the U.S. of misrepresenting EU efforts to combat forced labor. The proposed tariffs come amid ongoing trade tensions and legal challenges, with the Trump administration continuing to assert its authority under trade laws.
Source: Original Article
