The tariffs coming into effect on Friday range from 10 to 12.5 percent and will affect major economies such as China, India, and the European Union (EU).
“The United States has had a ban on forced labor imports for nearly a century and enforces it strictly. It’s high time for our trading partners to do the same,” said U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
It is announced that economies that have implemented or committed to implementing a ban on forced labor imports will be subject to a lower 10 percent tariff. These include Canada, the EU, India, and the United Kingdom.
China, Japan, South Korea, and dozens of other countries were deemed deserving of a higher 12.5 percent tariff.
However, the EU, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland will receive certain concessions consistent with trade agreements they previously reached with the United States.
The new tariffs quickly drew reactions from countries.
Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara stated that Tokyo regrets the tariffs, given that the higher tariff is applied “solely on the basis that there is no ban on the import of products made with forced labor.”
Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell condemned the tariffs as unjustified, stating that they “are contrary to our free trade agreement and should be removed.”
Goods already subject to specific sectoral tariffs, such as steel and aluminum, will not be affected.
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New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Friday condemned the new U.S. tariffs as “extremely disappointing.”
“The U.S. investigation did not provide significant evidence to support claims of forced labor,” he stated on the social network “X”. “Tariffs are not the solution, as they increase costs and uncertainty for businesses.”
Beijing stated its opposition to the new U.S. tariffs.
“We oppose all forms of unilateral tariff measures,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference. “Tariff wars and trade wars are not in the interests of any country.”
Meanwhile, there is a sense of relief in Brussels, as there were previous fears that Washington would retaliate in response to Brussels’ recent massive fine imposed on U.S. giant Google.
“The EU welcomes that this outcome is consistent with the U.S. tariff commitments agreed under the EU-U.S. Joint Statement,” said European Commission spokesman Olof Gill.
The EU spokesman stated that under the new arrangement, the EU will be subject to a uniform 10 percent tariff, and additional tariff concessions will be reintroduced for certain European products, such as cork bark and diamonds. Furthermore, O. Gill noted that concessions will also apply to other goods, such as aircraft and their spare parts, and generic medicines.
According to him, this would create a “positive dynamic” for transatlantic discussions on various issues – from strategic raw materials to artificial intelligence.
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