Trump Proposes New Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners Over Forced Labor Concerns

Benzinga reported Tuesday that the Trump administration has proposed sweeping new import duties on goods from 60 trading partners. The move targets economies accused of failing to curb trade in products made with forced labor.

USTR Tables Two-Tier Duty Structure

The proposal comes from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and invokes authority under a Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation. Two separate duty rates are on the table. Fifteen trading partners face a proposed 10% additional levy. Those partners include Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

The remaining 45 economies under scrutiny face a steeper proposed rate of 12.5%. That group includes both China and India. Combined, the 60 economies represent a substantial share of total US import volume.

Greer Frames Issue as Worker Competitiveness

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer made clear his frustration with the status quo. He told reporters that the inability of major trading partners to stop the flow of forced-labor-made goods into global supply chains was simply not acceptable. He argued the practice places American workers at a structural disadvantage in global competition.

Background: Temporary Tariffs Set to Expire

The proposal arrives as a separate, earlier measure approaches its expiration date. A 10% temporary tariff that the administration imposed in late February is scheduled to lapse on July 24. The new forced labor tariffs would be distinct from that existing measure, though both reflect the administration’s continued use of trade tools to press partners on manufacturing practices.

Public Comment Period Opens Ahead of July Hearings

The USTR has mapped out a formal review process before any rates take effect. Stakeholders wishing to testify at USTR hearings on July 7 must submit their requests and testimony summaries by June 22. Written comments are due July 6. Importers, manufacturers, and trade associations are expected to engage heavily during the window, given the breadth of economies now under review.

The scope of the action signals that Washington intends to treat forced labor not merely as a human rights issue but as a live trade enforcement priority throughout 2026.

Read Next: Trump Tariff Pause Sends Markets Higher as Trade Talks Resume