Washington proposes tariffs on imports from 60 countries, including China and the EU, citing failure to ban forced labor goods.
The U.S. Trade Representative proposed tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, citing inadequate enforcement of forced labor bans. The move targets major trading partners, including China, the European Union, and Japan, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
A 10% duty rate is proposed for countries with partial forced labor prohibitions, while others face 12.5%. A separate textile mechanism would allow limited apparel imports at reduced rates. The USTR stated the action aims to level the playing field for American workers.
The proposal follows findings that trading partners have not sufficiently addressed forced labor imports, despite some initial steps under agreements like USMCA.