WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has proposed new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on imports from roughly 60 countries, arguing that many U.S. trading partners have failed to adequately prevent goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets.
The proposal would affect major economies including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, and Switzerland. The administration says the tariffs are intended to protect American workers from unfair competition created by products linked to forced labor practices abroad.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said countries that fail to enforce restrictions on imports produced through forced labor create an uneven playing field for American businesses and workers. The proposed tariffs stem from investigations conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
According to administration documents, imports from the United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Mexico, and Taiwan could face 10% tariffs, while imports from China, Japan, India, South Korea, Brazil, and Switzerland could be subject to tariffs of 12.5%.
The proposal has drawn immediate criticism from some U.S. allies. The European Commission argued that the tariffs would violate the spirit of a trade agreement reached with Washington last year and said the European Union shares U.S. concerns regarding forced labor but opposes the use of tariffs as a remedy.
The tariffs would not take effect immediately and remain subject to a public comment period and federal review process. If implemented, they would represent another major expansion of Trump’s trade agenda ahead of the 2026 elections.
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