The United States has imposed new tariffs on 60 trading partners, together accounting for the vast majority of American imports, over claims that they failed to adequately curb forced labor in their supply chains.
The duties, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, target major economic partners including the UK, China, the European Union, Canada, Japan, and India. They took effect Friday, as an earlier temporary 10% tax on foreign goods expired.
The move marks the latest escalation in the global trade war reignited by President Trump since returning to office last year. Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled that many of the tariffs Trump had imposed under emergency powers were illegally enacted, prompting the White House to pursue alternative legal avenues for its trade agenda. Last month, it proposed the current 10%-12.5% duties on imports from dozens of countries over forced labor concerns, and on Thursday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed the tariffs would take effect, acting under Trump’s direction.
“Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere,” Greer said in a statement. He invoked Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the same week the administration used a separate law, Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, to impose 50% tariffs on Canadian products.
The Office of the US Trade Representative said the tariffs apply to America’s top 60 trading partners, covering 99.4% of US imports, and are being levied against countries that failed to impose and effectively enforce a ban on goods made with forced labor. The office said Trump has made adoption of such bans a critical component of reciprocal trade agreements, noting that 10 trading partners have already agreed to enact them, with others implementing bans in response to ongoing US investigations. Countries that have committed to such bans face the lower 10% rate, while those that haven’t face 12.5%. Greer said he was encouraged by partners who moved quickly to adopt the prohibitions and looked forward to ensuring their enforcement.
Trade policy expert Deborah Elms of the Hinrich Foundation said the new levies show the Trump administration remains determined to press ahead with its tariff strategy, adding that it is unlikely affected countries will be able to demonstrate sufficient safeguards against forced labor imports. Wendy Cutler of the Asia Society Policy Institute said the tariffs will likely raise costs for businesses and consumers, though the impact may be softened by a range of exemptions. She added that most affected countries will likely respond by seeking to reduce their dependence on the US market through deals elsewhere.
Reactions From Abroad
Brazil, hit with the 12.5% rate, called the move “unjustified” and “arbitrary,” accusing Washington of manipulating a serious workers’ rights issue to serve a protectionist trade agenda. Brazil said it would respond under its own reciprocity law and explore alternative trading partners. The tariff comes on top of a separate 25% US duty imposed on Brazilian furniture, machinery, sugar, and other goods earlier this month, though exemptions remain in place for products like beef and coffee.
Japan said it “regrets” the new tariffs, maintaining that its trade practices already comply with international rules. Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell called the levies “completely unjustified” and said he would continue pressing Washington to lift all duties on Australian goods. China rejected the allegations outright, with foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning saying “there is no so-called forced labor in China,” and accusing the US of using the issue as a pretext for political manipulation. Several international human rights groups, however, have documented forced labor practices in China, particularly affecting Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.
A Signature Policy, Repeatedly Reworked
Trump has long argued that tariffs protect American workers and strengthen the US economy. In April 2025, he imposed tariffs of up to 50% on trading partners worldwide as part of what he called “Liberation Day,” aiming to correct what he described as unfair treatment of the United States. The Supreme Court struck down those tariffs in February, ruling that the president had exceeded his authority and triggering tens of billions of dollars in refunds. Since then, the administration has pursued alternative legal mechanisms, including the now-expired 10% temporary levy, alongside separate tariffs targeting Brazil and Canada. A tit-for-tat tariff standoff with China remains on hold. Trump has also used tariffs as leverage on non-trade issues, as with Mexico, and the administration is currently investigating 16 additional countries, representing the bulk of US imports, over allegations of manufacturing overcapacity.
