US proposes new tariffs on 60 economies, including Pakistan, citing forced labour failures

WEB DESK: Washington has unveiled plans to slap fresh duties on imports from 60 trading partners, including Pakistan and India, accusing them of failing to effectively tackle the importation of goods made with forced labour.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the proposed tariffs, ranging from 10pc to 12.5pc, as part of efforts to rebuild its tariff strategy following recent legal challenges.

The move targets economies deemed to have fallen short in enforcing prohibitions on forced labour imports, which Washington argues disadvantages American workers.

Targeted nations and tariff structure

According to a government filing, 54 economies including China, Vietnam, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and India failed to impose and enforce a forced labour import ban.

Six others, namely Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan, were found not to have effectively enforced such measures.

The USTR stated that 10pc duties would apply to imports from Canada, Ecuador, the EU, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan and several other nations, while the remaining 45 countries would face additional 12.5pc tariffs.

Exemptions have been outlined for certain products, including beef, coffee, some fruits and nuts, as well as goods from Canada and Mexico that comply with North American trade agreements and specific textiles and apparel items.

Pakistan included amid broader trade tensions

The proposal comes months after investigations were launched into major trading partners, including China, the EU and Japan, to assess their actions against forced labour and the impact on US commerce.

USTR Jamieson Greer described the situation as unacceptable, emphasising that American workers should not compete on an “unlevel playing field”.

“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable,” Greer said in a statement. “We will no longer tolerate this disparity.”

Public comments on the proposed tariffs are invited until July 6, with hearings to follow. The announcement precedes the July 24 expiry of a temporary 10pc tariff imposed earlier this year, highlighting the Trump administration’s continued push to use trade measures to address global labour practices.