US Imposes New Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners Over Forced Labor Concerns

The United States began collecting new tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent on imports from approximately 60 trading partners. These duties cover 99.4 percent of all US imports and are based on a finding under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 that these economies have failed to ban imports made with forced labor. The new rates replaced a previous temporary charge that had been imposed after the Supreme Court struck down earlier tariffs.

The new tariffs create different trade obligations for the affected nations. Partners that commit to enacting and enforcing forced labor import bans will pay 10 percent, while those that do not commit will pay 12.5 percent. The Supreme Court's prior ruling on the matter was related to the initial tariff structure.