The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed new tariffs on 60 economies over what it describes as failures to effectively prevent the importation of goods produced through forced labour.
According to a government filing released on Tuesday, the proposed duties range between 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent and will be subject to a public consultation process before any final decision is taken.
The proposal follows investigations launched by the United States into several major trading partners, including China, the European Union, Japan and others.
The investigations examined whether these economies had taken adequate steps to stop the importation of goods produced using forced labour and whether such practices negatively affected American commerce.
In its findings, the USTR said 54 economies failed to impose and effectively enforce bans on imports linked to forced labour.
The list includes China, Vietnam, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
Six additional economies — Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan — were found to have not effectively enforced existing prohibitions against such imports.
Commenting on the development, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the failure of major trading partners to address forced labour issues was unacceptable.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable,” Greer said in a statement.
He added that the situation places American workers at a disadvantage in global markets.
“This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,” he stated.
Despite the proposed measures, the USTR outlined several exemptions covering selected products and sectors.
Items such as beef, coffee, and certain fruits and nuts would not be subject to the new tariffs.
The proposal also exempts goods from Canada and Mexico that comply with the North American free trade agreement, as well as specific textile and apparel products.
The USTR has invited members of the public, businesses and stakeholders to submit written comments on the proposal by July 6.
Public hearings will be held afterward before the agency makes a final determination on the tariffs.
The latest move forms part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape its trade policy following legal challenges earlier this year.
In February, the US Supreme Court struck down a broad range of tariffs introduced under President Donald Trump, prompting officials to explore alternative legal pathways for imposing trade duties.
Beyond the forced labour investigations, the USTR has also initiated separate probes into excess industrial capacity in foreign economies.
Trade analysts say the proposed tariffs could heighten tensions between the United States and several key trading partners if implemented, while also influencing global supply chains and international trade flows.
The outcome of the public consultation process is expected to play a significant role in determining the scope and timing of any final tariff measures.
