The United States Trade Representative, USTR, has proposed new duties targeting 60 economies for alleged failures to act against forced labour.
A statement by the USTR disclosed that this is as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to rebuild its tariff agenda following legal setbacks.
According to a government filing, the proposed tariffs range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent, and they will undergo a public comment period before a final decision is made.
This development came a few months after the US launched investigations into trading partners, including China, the European Union, and Japan.
The probes looked into whether they took action against the import of goods made with forced labor, and if this impacted US commerce.
The USTR, on Tuesday stated that 54 of the economies failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition.
The group includes China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
Six other economies — Canada, Ecuador, the EU, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan — were deemed not to have effectively enforced such prohibitions.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable.
“This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,” USTR said.
However, the proposed tariffs come with various exemptions, such as beef, coffee, and certain fruits and nuts.
According to the USTR, goods from Canada and Mexico that comply with a North American free trade pact will also be exempt, as will certain textiles and apparel.
Meanwhile, the public is invited to provide written comments by July 6, and the USTR will subsequently hold hearings.
After the Supreme Court struck down a swath of President Trump’s tariffs in February, US officials launched the new trade probes as steps toward imposing more lasting duties.
