US Imposes New Tariffs on 60 Trade Partners, Including EU, Over Forced Labor Concerns
The United States has introduced new tariffs targeting 60 trade partners, including the European Union, replacing earlier temporary global tariffs. The measures are based on findings that these countries have not adequately enforced bans on imports made with forced labor.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced on Thursday that the new tariffs are a result of investigations into forced labor practices. According to USTR, two rounds of public hearings were held, over 2,100 public comments were reviewed, and consultations were conducted with trading partners to address longstanding issues.
USTR head Jamieson Greer stated that the U.S. has had a ban on imports made with forced labor for nearly a century, and it is time for trading partners to do the same.
The tariffs are set at 10% for countries that the U.S. considers to have taken measures against forced labor, and 12.5% for others. The European Union, along with Japan and Switzerland, are listed among partners for which both rates are indicated, meaning their goods may face either rate depending on the product or compliance.
The new duties cover 99.4% of U.S. imports from the affected countries, with exceptions for steel and aluminum, which are already subject to separate tariffs, as well as oil and gas.
These tariffs effectively replace the temporary global 10% tariffs previously imposed by President Donald Trump under a national emergency related to trade deficits. Those tariffs could no longer be applied because the statutory 150-day maximum period for such presidential actions had expired.
