In a decisive step to protect American workers and reshape international trade norms, President Donald Trump‘s administration has proposed fresh tariffs of at least 10% on imports from 60 trading partners.
This represents Trump’s most significant initiative since earlier levies were invalidated by the Supreme Court, with the policy explicitly tied to global failures in combating forced labor.
Details of the Tariff Proposal
Following an in-depth investigation into how trade partners manage goods allegedly produced with forced labor, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) outlined the new duties late Tuesday.
A 10% tariff rate would apply to imports from Canada, Mexico, the European Union, Taiwan, and the UK, among others. Products from other major economies—including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and Switzerland—would face a higher 12.5% levy.
Breaking: US proposes new tariffs on India and 59 other global economies after investigation into forced labour practices
10% or 12.5% additional tariff will be levied pic.twitter.com/gxgCjnEuTU
— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) June 3, 2026
According to Reuters, the USTR justified the tiered approach by noting that the lower rate applies to economies that impose prohibitions on forced labor imports or have committed to doing so. Higher rates target those “that have failed to impose and effectively enforce” such prohibitions.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable,” USTR Jamieson Greer said in a statement.
“This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field. We will no longer tolerate this disparity. Each of our trading partners must do more to ensure that trade does not perversely encourage and entrench forced labor globally.”
Scope of the Investigation and Findings
The move follows investigations launched months earlier into trading partners, including China, the European Union (EU), and Japan. These probes assessed whether partners were acting against forced labor imports and the resulting impact on US commerce.
For nearly a century, the United States has prohibited the importation of goods made with forced labor. It is time for our trading partners to follow suit.
Today, Ambassador Greer determined that the acts, policies, and practices of 60 economies related to the failure to… pic.twitter.com/JWyRCDyXHL
— United States Trade Representative (@USTradeRep) June 3, 2026
The USTR concluded that 54 economies “failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition.”
This group encompasses China, Vietnam, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and India. Six other economies—Canada, Ecuador, the EU, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan—were deemed not to have effectively enforced such prohibitions.
The proposed tariffs range from 10% to 12.5%, according to a government filing. They will undergo a public comment period before any final decision. The public is invited to provide written comments by July 6, after which the USTR will hold hearings.
Exemptions and Special Provisions
The proposal includes several exemptions to mitigate impacts on specific sectors. These cover beef, coffee, and certain fruits and nuts.
US Trade Court Strikes Down Trump’s Replacement Global Tariffs
Goods from Canada and Mexico that comply with the North American free trade pact will also be exempt, along with certain textiles and apparel.
The tariffs target 60 economies in total, explicitly including Pakistan and India.
Strategic Timing and Context
The announcement arrives ahead of the July 24 expiration of a temporary 10% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on February 20—the same day the Supreme Court struck down the president’s earlier tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
According to CBS News, this new framework aims to rebuild the administration’s tariff agenda on stronger grounds.
America is exporting more than at ANY POINT in its 250-year history. pic.twitter.com/vMd9GQbaDt
— United States Trade Representative (@USTradeRep) June 2, 2026
Global Reactions
China responded sharply on Wednesday. “There is no so-called forced labor in China, and we oppose using this as an excuse for political manipulation,” Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, said at a regular press briefing. Beijing also opposed all forms of “unilateral” tariffs.
The European Commission called the proposed tariffs unjustified while reaffirming its commitments.
“The EU considers tariffs imposed on these grounds to be unjustified,” a spokesperson said. “On the EU side, we are on track to ensure implementation of our Joint Statement tariff commitments by the end of June.”
This latest action underscores the administration’s determination to address what it sees as unfair global competition, even as it invites debate during the upcoming comment and hearing process.
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
