U.S. Sets 10‑12.5% Tariffs on Nations for Forced Labour
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- U.S. Trade Department announced tariffs of 10‑12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners because they have not adequately addressed forced‑labour goods.
- Canada, the EU, Britain, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia and Taiwan will face a 10% duty, while the other 45 partners—including China and India—will face a 12.5% duty.
- Jamieson Greer said the tariffs “creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field.”
- The investigation concluded that 54 of the 60 partners failed to impose a legal prohibition on forced‑labour imports, and six partners failed to effectively enforce such a prohibition.
- UK government spokesperson said the UK is tackling forced labour in its supply chains and is regularly engaging with the U.S. administration.
Why it matters: American workers gain a fairer playing field as foreign exporters face 10‑12.5% tariffs, raising costs for goods from China, India and the other 45 partners, pressuring those economies to tighten forced‑labour enforcement.
