Key facts
- President Trump proposed tariffs on imports from 60 countries for failing to curb trade in goods made with forced labor.
- Experts and human rights groups believe the tariffs will not effectively combat modern slavery and may worsen the situation.
- The proposed duties stem from a Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation.
- Critics argue the tariffs are a new justification for trade protectionism rather than a sincere effort to address forced labor.
- The EU's Forced Labour Regulation, set to apply in December 2027, has a higher bar for proof of violations than U.S. rules.
President Donald Trump has proposed new tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, accusing them of failing to curb trade in goods made with forced labor. However, experts, business groups, and human rights organizations argue these measures are unlikely to effectively combat modern slavery and could potentially worsen the situation. The plan originates from a Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation, intended to restore emergency tariffs previously struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Critics, such as Ram Ben Tzion, CEO of Publican, suggest the tariffs are primarily a new justification for trade protectionism rather than a genuine effort to address forced labor. The International Labour Organization estimates 27.6 million people are in forced labor globally, with significant cases in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, fishing, and mining. The U.S. approach has drawn scrutiny, particularly in comparison to the EU's Forced Labour Regulation, which will apply from December 2027 and sets a higher bar for proof of violations. The European Commission stated the U.S. tariffs were unjustified. International human rights group Walk Free noted that no G20 country is doing enough to combat forced labor relative to its wealth, and the U.S. itself has a high number of people in modern slavery. Andrew Wilson of the International Chamber of Commerce expressed concern over the "arbitrary nature" of the tariffs, suggesting the EU's planned measures will be broader and have greater market reach. Sebastian Ruenz of Taylor Wessing also noted the EU's framework is structurally more comprehensive. Hélène de Rengerve of Human Rights Watch questioned the tariffs' incentive for improvement and suggested they could be counterproductive, noting that extreme forms of forced labor, such as those in China's Xinjiang region, Turkmenistan, and North Korea, are not the primary targets, with tariffs shaped more by trade volumes and geopolitical considerations.