NEW TARIFFS ON 60 TRADING PARTNERS OVER FORCED LABOUR

WASHINGTON, JULY 24 /SRNA/ - The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump will, starting today, impose new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the European Union, over their inadequate enforcement of bans on forced labour.

Oil and gas, fertilizers, certain food products, as well as goods already subject to tariffs imposed on national security grounds, such as automobiles, steel, aluminum, and copper, will be exempt from the new duties.

Goods that qualify under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement /USMCA/ will also be exempt because of the high level of integration within North American supply chains, Reuters reported.

White House officials said the new measures are not a replacement for tariffs that are set to expire, even though they are being introduced at the same time and will cover nearly all U.S. imports.

They said the United States has stricter bans on imports of goods produced with forced labour than other countries and enforces them more consistently, putting American manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage.

Under the final decision, imports from countries with adequate laws against forced labour will be subject to a 10% tariff, while goods from countries that, in Washington's view, have insufficiently stringent regulations will face a 12.5% tariff.

Some countries, including India, have since adopted new measures to combat forced labour, meaning their exports will be subject to the lower 10% tariff.