Key facts
- President Donald Trump proposed additional duties on imports from 60 countries for failing to curb trade in goods made with forced labor.
- Experts, business groups, and some human rights groups believe the tariffs will do little to fight modern slavery and could make things worse.
- The plan is seen by some as a new justification for trade tariffs.
- The International Labour Organization estimates 27.6 million people are in forced labor globally.
- The EU's Forced Labour Regulation, set to apply in December 2027, is criticized by the USTR as having a higher bar for proof than U.S. rules.
- International Chamber of Commerce stated the "arbitrary nature" of the tariffs is a cause for concern.
President Donald Trump's administration has proposed additional duties of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, asserting they have failed to curb trade in goods made with forced labor. However, experts, business groups, and some human rights organizations argue that these tariffs will be ineffective in fighting modern slavery and could potentially exacerbate the problem. Ram Ben Tzion, CEO of digital shipment-vetting platform Publican, suggested the measure is primarily a new justification for trade tariffs. The International Labour Organization estimates that 27.6 million people are currently in forced labor globally, with nearly half of cases found in export-related sectors like manufacturing, construction, agriculture, fishing, and mining. The U.S. plan has drawn scrutiny, particularly concerning its criticism of the EU's Forced Labour Regulation, which is set to apply in December 2027 and is described as having a higher bar for proof. The European Commission rejected the tariffs as unjustified. International human rights group Walk Free noted that the U.S. is among the top 10 countries with the largest numbers of people living in modern slavery. The International Chamber of Commerce expressed concern over the "arbitrary nature" of the tariffs, questioning their effectiveness in controlling modern slavery and suggesting the EU's planned measures may eventually be broader. Experts like Sebastian Ruenz noted the EU ban covers products made with forced labor worldwide and that countries like Germany and France already have national standards. Human Rights Watch's Hélène de Rengerve argued that the tariffs are not primarily targeting the most extreme forms of forced labor and may create political resistance, potentially being counterproductive.