WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has proposed imposing additional import duties of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 countries, following findings that several trading partners have failed to adequately address the import of products linked to forced labour, in a move that could heighten tensions in global trade relations.
The proposal was issued by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) under a Section 301 investigation into unfair trade practices.
It comes as the administration seeks to reintroduce tariff measures that were previously struck down after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in February, which restricted the use of emergency powers for such trade actions.
According to the USTR, the plan includes 10% additional duties on imports from countries including Canada, Mexico, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Taiwan, Argentina, Cambodia, Malaysia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Ecuador, among others. The remaining countries under review would face 12.5% tariffs.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the decision reflects concerns over the continued flow of goods produced through forced labour into global supply chains.
“This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,” Greer said"
The agency also proposed a textile mechanism that would allow a limited volume of apparel and textile imports to enter the U.S. at reduced tariff rates, although specific quotas and tariff levels were not disclosed.
The announcement comes ahead of the July 24 expiration of a temporary 10% tariff introduced earlier this year after the Supreme Court struck down parts of the administration’s tariff authority under emergency legislation.
In parallel developments, the USTR earlier proposed a 25% tariff on selected Brazilian imports as part of a separate investigation into digital trade practices. It is also expected to announce findings from another major probe examining industrial overcapacity across 16 trading partners, including China.
The agency said certain essential imports would be exempt from the proposed duties, including energy products, rare earth materials, selected metals, pharmaceuticals, agricultural goods such as beef and coffee, fruits and vegetables, organic chemicals and aircraft parts.
The USTR has invited public comments on the proposal until July 6, with a public hearing scheduled for July 7 before a final decision is made.
If implemented, the measures are likely to reshape trade flows and further strain relations between the United States and several major economies already navigating fragile economic conditions.
