Trump Imposes Forced Labor Tariffs on 60 Plus Countries

The Trump administration announced tariffs on more than 60 countries on Thursday, citing the continued presence of forced labor in global supply chains. Using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the U.S. implemented a 10 percent tariff for Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, while other targeted nations face a 12.5 percent levy. These duties were introduced shortly before a temporary 10 percent global duty under Section 122 was scheduled to expire.

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the U.S. has enforced a forced labor import ban for nearly a century and argued that trading partners must now do the same. The U.S. Trade Representative's office specifically alleged that Canada failed to effectively enforce its own forced labor import prohibitions.

The Government of Canada contested the tariffs, arguing that existing prohibitions and the recently tabled Bill C-35—which would establish a public list of products linked to forced labor—demonstrate sufficient commitment to the issue. Certain strategic goods, including oil, gas, fertilizer, and products qualifying for duty-free status under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, remain exempt from the new levies.