Why has the US imposed new tariffs on 60 trading partners?

The US tariffs introduced by the Trump administration impose duties of 10% and 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners over concerns about forced labour enforcement, replacing a temporary global tariff that expired on Friday.

WASHINGTON: The United States has imposed fresh import duties on goods from 60 trading partners, introducing tariff rates of 10% and 12.5% as part of a new trade policy targeting countries accused of weak enforcement against forced labour. The US tariffs came into effect on Friday after a temporary 10% global tariff expired.

According to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), the new measures cover about 99.4% of US imports but exclude several key products, including oil and gas, fertiliser, certain food items, vehicles and aircraft. The administration said these exemptions are intended to reduce disruption to essential industries while maintaining pressure on countries it believes have not adequately prevented the import of goods produced through forced labour.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the United States has enforced a ban on imports linked to forced labour for decades and expects its trading partners to uphold similar standards.

“The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it. It’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” Greer said.

The 10% tariff applies to imports from countries including Britain, Canada, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Mexico and Sri Lanka. The European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Switzerland were assigned rates that, together with existing tariff schedules, result in effective duties of either 10% or 12.5%. Most of the remaining countries face the higher 12.5% rate.

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Several governments have criticised the decision, arguing that their labour standards already meet international expectations and rejecting the US allegations. Trade experts say the move could increase tensions in global commerce, although the broad list of exemptions may soften the immediate impact on supply chains and consumer prices. The administration has indicated that further trade actions could follow as investigations into global trade practices continue. The US tariffs are expected to remain a key issue in international trade discussions over the coming months.