Key facts
- New tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% have been imposed on goods from over 80 countries.
- The duties are intended to address the alleged failure of countries to effectively ban imports produced with forced labor.
- These tariffs replace a previous 10% global duty that expired.
- The measures are being implemented under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
- Certain goods, including oil and gas, and those covered by the USMCA, are exempted.
The Trump administration has implemented new tariffs on goods from over 80 countries, with rates ranging from 10% to 12.5%. These duties, which took effect immediately, replace a global 10% tariff that had expired. The administration stated the tariffs are aimed at countries that have failed to effectively ban and enforce prohibitions on imports produced with forced labor, citing Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
While some countries, such as Canada and the European Union, already have measures against forced labor imports, U.S. officials argue these are not sufficiently enforced. The EU's ban is scheduled to take effect in December 2027. The U.S. itself has long-standing prohibitions on goods made with slave labor. Some critics, however, suggest that the forced labor issue is being used as a pretext by the administration to reimpose tariffs that have faced legal challenges, particularly after the Supreme Court struck down previous broad import taxes.
Exemptions from the new tariffs include oil and gas, certain national resources, and goods already covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement or national security tariffs on items like cars and steel. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) initiated investigations into countries' forced-labor import policies, involving public hearings and comments, with the results released in June.