Washington, July 24 (SANA) The United States on Friday imposed new tariffs on 60 trading partners over concerns related to forced labor, replacing temporary duties introduced earlier this year by President Donald Trump’s administration that have since expired.
The new tariffs, which took effect on Friday, range from 10% to 12.5% and apply to several major economies, including China, India, the European Union, Japan and South Korea, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Washington has maintained a decades-long ban on imports produced using forced labor and urged other countries to adopt similar measures.
The move follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a large portion of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration earlier this year, saying the legal authority used to introduce them was insufficient. The administration subsequently imposed temporary 10% tariffs under another law before introducing the new system.
Under the new measures, countries that have adopted or committed to banning imports linked to forced labor, including Canada, the European Union, India and the United Kingdom, will face tariffs of 10%. Other economies, including China, Japan and South Korea, will face duties of 12.5%.
The decision also grants reduced measures to some trading partners, including the European Union, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland, in line with existing trade agreements with Washington.
Trade partners criticize tariffs
Japan’s government expressed regret over the decision, while Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell called the tariffs “unjustified” and inconsistent with the two countries’ free trade agreement, urging Washington to remove them.
South Korea also called on the United States to reconsider the measures, describing them as “unjustified” and “disproportionate” given Seoul’s efforts to address forced labor concerns.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon criticized the decision as well, saying Washington had not provided sufficient evidence to support its allegations.
The new tariffs were imposed under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, which allows the administration to maintain a minimum tariff level on most imports. They are expected to face fewer legal challenges than the measures previously struck down by the Supreme Court.
The temporary 10% global tariffs imposed by Trump 150 days ago also expired on Friday, while goods already in transit will be exempt from the new tariffs until July 28.
The International Labour Organization defines forced labor as “all work or service which is extracted from any person under the threat of any penalty and for which the person has not offered themselves voluntarily.”
T.S /ABD
