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The United States is imposing new tariffs on most of its 60 trading partners, saying it will not effectively end forced labor.
Between 10% and 12.5% of its activities target key economic partners – including the UK, the European Union, Canada, Japan and India. come on friday The temporary 10% tax on foreign goods introduced earlier this year will expire.
The move is the latest escalation in a global trade war that US President Donald Trump has reignited since his return to power last year.
The US Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that many of the tariffs imposed under international emergency powers were illegal.
So the president looked for other legal ways to pursue his flagging trade policy.
White House for the first time a A series of 10-12.5% duties on goods They arrived on American shores from many countries that did not do enough to combat forced labor.
On Thursday, U.S. Trade Representative James Greer said the measures being implemented under Trump’s directive will now be implemented.
“Today’s action begins to improve the safety of workers everywhere, which is a human rights abuse and unfair business practice,” the statement said.
Greer has passed the 1999 Act, which would have prohibited duties that burdened or restricted American trade. Invoked Section 301 of the Commerce Act of 1974.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 called for separate legislation to impose a 50% tariff on Canadian imports.
On Thursday, the US Trade Representative’s office said it was imposing the latest tariffs on partners for their “failure and ineffectiveness to ban the importation of goods produced by forced labor.”
The new duties will apply to America’s top 60 trading partners, which account for 99.4% of US imports, he added.
The office said Trump, in his second term, has made a ban on imports along with forced labor a “crucial” part of trade deals with other countries.
So far, 10 trading partners have agreed to approve such a ban on these agreements, and other countries have issued restrictions in response to the investigation in recent weeks.
Trade partners that pledge to “accept and effectively enforce” a ban on forced imports will face a 10% tariff, while those that don’t will face a 12.5% higher tariff, the office added.
Greer said in a statement that he was “encouraged by our trading partners who moved quickly to implement the bans on forced labor and look forward to ensuring their effective implementation.”
Trump said tariffs on imports would create more US manufacturing jobs and boost the US economy.
But economists warn that higher tariffs will make everyday goods like coffee and microwaves more expensive. Since taxes are paid by importing companies, those businesses often pass on the additional costs to buyers through higher prices.
The president has used his position to pressure other countries, such as Mexico, on non-trade issues such as labor laws.
The White House insists the tariffs are needed to protect American workers and ensure fair competition.
However, trade groups and affected countries are expected to push back.
Many trading partners are weighing possible legal challenges or retaliatory obligations in response.
The administration is also preparing for further action.
The U.S. Trade Representative is currently investigating 16 countries — for most U.S. imports — over manufacturing overcapacity claims, which could pave the way for more jobs later this year.
