Trump threatens tariffs on 60 trading partners over forced labour

Donald Trump has threatened tariffs of between 10% and 12.5% on 60 trading partners, including the UK, the EU and Australia, over alleged failures to prevent imports of goods made with forced labour. The move is the latest attempt to revive his signature trade policy.

The threat follows a February US supreme court ruling that the president’s “liberation day” tariffs were illegal. Trump responded by imposing 10% across-the-board tariffs, which a US trade court later found unlawful, although those levies remain in place during the appeal process.

The proposal stems from investigations under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and would affect major partners such as Canada, Japan, Norway, Taiwan and China. A 98-page report said only Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan have not failed to impose a forced labour import prohibition, but the White House judged Canada to be failing to enforce its laws and the EU’s across-the-board ban does not come into force until December 2027.

United States

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