According to the document submitted by the government, the proposed tariffs would range from 10 to 12.5 percent, and a public consultation would be held before making a final decision.
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This step is taken a few months after Washington launched investigations into trade partners, including China, the European Union, and Japan, to determine whether these countries have taken action against imports of goods made with forced labor and whether this has affected U.S. trade.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Trade Representative stated that 54 countries “have not imposed and effectively enforced bans on imports of forced labor products.” This group includes China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. It was determined that six other countries – Canada, Ecuador, the EU, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan – also have not effectively enforced such bans.
“It is unacceptable that our key trading partners are not addressing the issue of imports of goods made with forced labor,” said U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in a statement. “This creates a situation where American workers are forced to compete globally on uneven terms.”
However, various exemptions would apply to the proposed tariffs, such as for beef, coffee, and certain fruits and nuts. Goods from Canada and Mexico that comply with the North American Free Trade Agreement would also be exempt from tariffs, as would certain textiles and clothing.
The public is invited to submit written comments on this issue by July 6, after which public hearings will be held.
After the Supreme Court struck down part of the tariffs set by President D. Trump in February, U.S. officials launched new trade investigations aiming to impose long-term tariffs.
In addition to investigations on forced labor, the U.S. Trade Representative has also initiated investigations into excess industrial capacity.
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