U.S. Forced-Labor Tariffs Draw International Pushback
The Trump administration has announced new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, citing their failure to prohibit and enforce bans on goods made with forced labor. The measures, scheduled to take effect Friday, cover countries responsible for about 99.4% of U.S. imports, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the action is intended to address both human rights abuses and trade distortions. The administration invoked Section 301 of U.S. trade law, which permits sanctions against practices deemed unreasonable, discriminatory, or burdensome to American commerce. The tariffs follow a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that invalidated most of Trump’s previous duties.
Officials in several affected countries disputed Washington’s justification. Leaders and ministers from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China, Norway, and Brazil described the tariffs as unsupported, unilateral, arbitrary, or inconsistent with their labor and trade standards. Brazil accused the United States of using a human rights issue to advance protectionist policy.
Most affected economies will face the 12.5% rate. Seventeen countries, including Canada, Mexico, India, and the United Kingdom, will receive a 10% rate after making commitments to adopt or enforce forced-labor import restrictions.
Responses from this group were more restrained. Canada said it shares the U.S. goal of excluding forced-labor goods but emphasized that it already maintains strong laws and enforcement. Mexico noted that the new tariff replaces an expiring 10% global duty, leaving its practical treatment largely unchanged.
European and British officials likewise predicted limited immediate effects because existing agreements cap many U.S. tariffs, although a Bank of France official warned of greater uncertainty and weaker global growth. Malaysia, Cambodia, and Bangladesh expressed relief at receiving the lower rate. The dispute now centers on whether the tariffs are a legitimate labor measure or a protectionist strategy.