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Wed, 03 Jun 2026

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 US announces new tariffs over forced labour concerns

It comes after the US Supreme Court struck down many of US President Donald Trump's previous duties in February.

* The US has announced new tariffs of 10-12.5% on dozens of countries, accounting for almost all its imports, over concerns they are not doing enough to tackle forced labor.
* The tariffs will target 60 trading partners, including the UK, EU, Canada, India and Japan, with 54 countries facing 12.5% duties and six others facing 10%.
* The US Trade Department said these countries failed to impose a legal prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor.
* The UK said it is tackling forced labor, while China denied allegations of forced labor and opposed unilateral tariffs.
* Human rights groups say forced labor does exist in China, particularly among Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.
* The EU said the tariffs were unjustified, while Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said they would not impact most Canadian exports to the US.
* India analyst Ajay Srivastava said the move was a pressure tactic and that India should challenge the legal basis of the proposed tariffs.
* The Trump administration will need to go through a process to enforce the tariffs, which have not yet been implemented.
* Trade measures can play a role in addressing forced labor risks, but they are not a substitute for effective enforcement, corporate accountability and mandatory human rights due diligence.