United States: The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed new import duties targeting 60 economies, including Pakistan and India, over alleged failures to act against forced labour in global supply chains, as the Trump administration seeks to rebuild its tariff framework following recent legal setbacks.
According to a government filing, the proposed tariffs range between 10% and 12.5% and will undergo a public comment period before any final decision is made.
The move follows months of U.S. investigations into trading partners including China, the European Union, and Japan, examining whether they have taken adequate steps to prevent imports linked to forced labour and whether such practices affect U.S. commerce.
On Tuesday, the USTR said 54 economies had “failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition.” This group includes China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
Separately, six economies, Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan, were identified as not having effectively enforced such prohibitions, according to the U.S. trade office.
USTR Jamieson Greer said the failure of key trading partners to address forced labour-linked imports was “unacceptable,” adding that it creates an uneven competitive environment for American workers.
The proposed measures include exemptions for goods such as beef, coffee, and certain fruits and nuts. Canada and Mexico will also benefit from exemptions for products compliant with the North American free trade agreement, along with selected textiles and apparel.
Written public comments will be accepted until July 6, after which the USTR will hold hearings before making a final determination.
The proposal follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in February that struck down a broad set of Trump-era tariffs. In response, U.S. officials have launched new trade investigations aimed at establishing a more legally durable framework for future duties.
In addition to forced labour concerns, the USTR has also initiated separate probes into global excess industrial capacity.