ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed new import duties targeting 60 economies over alleged failures to take action against forced labour practices.
A statement from the USTR said the move comes as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to rebuild its tariff framework following recent legal setbacks.
According to a government filing, the proposed tariffs range between 10 percent and 12.5 percent and will undergo a public comment process before a final decision is taken.
The development follows earlier US investigations into several trading partners, including China, the European Union and Japan, to determine whether they had acted against imports linked to forced labour and whether such inaction affected US trade.
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The USTR said on Tuesday that 54 economies failed to impose and effectively enforce bans on forced labour imports, listing China, Vietnam, Taiwan and the United Kingdom among them.
It added that six other economies Canada, Ecuador, the EU, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan were found not to have effectively enforced such prohibitions.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable.
“This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,” USTR said.
The proposed tariffs include several exemptions, covering products such as beef, coffee, and certain fruits and nuts.
The USTR also stated that goods from Canada and Mexico that comply with the North American free trade agreement would be exempt, alongside selected textiles and apparel items.
It added that members of the public are invited to submit written comments by July 6, after which hearings will be held.
The new measures follow earlier trade probes launched after the US Supreme Court struck down parts of President Trump’s tariff regime in February, prompting efforts to design more durable trade actions.