The administration of United States President Donald Trump has introduced fresh tariffs ranging from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent on imports from 60 trading partners, including major economies such as China and the European Union, over what Washington described as weak enforcement against goods linked to forced labour.
The new duties came into effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Friday, following the expiration of a temporary 10 per cent global tariff regime that had lasted for 150 days.
Goods already in transit would, however, remain exempt until July 28.
The tariffs cover about 99.4 per cent of U.S. imports but exclude several categories, including oil and gas, fertiliser, selected food products, aircraft and aircraft components, critical minerals, as well as goods already affected by separate national security tariffs on steel, aluminium, copper and automobiles.
The latest measure represents another effort by the Trump administration to expand its tariff-driven trade policy after the US Supreme Court in February rejected earlier “reciprocal” tariffs ranging from 10 per cent to 50 per cent, ruling that they exceeded presidential authority under emergency powers.
Unlike the previous tariff measures, the new duties are being introduced under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a legal framework that has historically withstood court challenges.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the action was intended to tackle both human rights concerns and unfair trade practices.
“The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it. It’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same.”
Greer added that the policy would address what Washington considers both a human rights violation and a distortion of global trade.
Under the new arrangement, countries including Argentina, Bangladesh, Britain, Canada, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will face a 10 per cent tariff rate.
The European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Switzerland will have rates that, combined with existing trade duties, amount to either 10 per cent or 12.5 per cent.
Thirty-eight other countries, including China and Vietnam, will face a 12.5 per cent tariff.
While Vietnam has recently strengthened measures against imports produced through forced labour, China has continued to reject US allegations concerning forced labour involving Uyghur minorities.
The Trump administration has also informed Beijing that it plans to restore tariffs on Chinese goods to the 20 per cent level agreed under the November 2025 trade truce between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, without exceeding that threshold.
The move has triggered criticism from several trading partners.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas questioned the basis for the tariffs, arguing that Europe already maintains strong labour protections.
“If you compare our labour laws to the ones of the United States, I mean, we have paid vacations, we have very good labour conditions for our employees, so it’s not really grounded.”
Australia and Brazil described the measures as unjustified and said they would seek their removal, while Norway said there was no basis for the tariffs.
Canada adopted a more cautious approach, saying it would continue discussions with Washington.
“We will continue engaging constructively with the United States on this matter, as well as other outstanding issues, over the coming weeks to the mutual benefit of our citizens.”
Trade analysts believe the latest tariff strategy may face fewer legal obstacles because it relies on Section 301 rather than emergency powers used in previous actions.
Former White House trade adviser Kelly Ann Shaw said the policy largely maintains the existing trade environment, although it expands exemptions by adding hundreds of additional products.
Trade lawyer Ryan Majerus said the administration would have significant flexibility under the new framework.
“Once the 301 duties are placed, they have a lot of flexibility to adjust them.”
A senior Trump administration official defended the tariffs, insisting they were not simply a replacement for the expired global duties but a targeted response to forced labour concerns.
The official argued that the United States applies some of the world’s strictest restrictions on goods produced through forced labour and said the measures were aimed at creating fairer competition while protecting workers across global supply chains.
