U.S. Imposes New Tariffs on Trade Partners over Forced Labour Concerns

Sat Jun 06 2026 20:04:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Trump administration has announced duties of 10‑12.5% on dozens of countries, citing failures to curb forced labour in imported goods.

In a second wave of hard‑line trade measures, U.S. officials will levy tariffs on 60 allied nations that have been found lacking effective bans or enforcement against forced labour. The United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, China and India are among the targets, but governments and human‑rights groups argue the policy does not address the underlying exploitation. The tariffs are not yet in force and will require future administrative steps before being applied.

U.S. Imposes New Tariffs on Trade Partners over Forced Labour Concerns

President Donald Trump’s administration has announced tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, citing that many are not effectively prohibiting or enforcing bans on forced labour.

The announcement follows a Department of Commerce investigation that concluded that 54 of the trading partners lacked a legal prohibition on goods produced with forced labour, and six more failed to enforce such a prohibition. The tariffs will affect the United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia and Taiwan at 10%, while the remaining 45 countries—including China and India—face 12.5% duties.

The U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, said the measures “create a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete on an unlevel playing field.” However, enforcement is not yet in place; the Trump administration must complete regulatory processes before the duties become enforceable.

Critics say the tariffs are unfair and ineffective. The UK government has said it is tackling forced labour domestically and in supply chains, while the European Commission described the move as “unjustified.” China denied any forced labour in its exports and called the policy politically motivated. India’s trade analysts argue the tariffs stretch the scope of U.S. Section 301 and should be challenged legally.

Human‑rights organisations, such as Amnesty International, have warned that trade measures alone can’t replace corporate accountability and due diligence. They argue that nations should strengthen their own enforcement of anti‑forced‑labour laws.

This is the second set of tariffs announced by the Trump administration; the first batch had been struck down by the Supreme Court in February. The new duties remain pending further action from Congress and may be subject to review.