Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of between 10% and 12.5% on 60 trading partners, including the UK, the EU, and Australia, citing failures to address forced labor. This is his latest attempt to revive his signature trade policy.
The EU quickly pushed back, saying it expects the US to honor the tariff deal they agreed to last July, and argued that these hidden tariffs go against the spirit of that agreement.
These proposed tariffs on partners accused of allowing imports made with forced labor come after the US Supreme Court ruled in February that Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs were illegal. In response, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all imports, but last month the US trade court also found those unlawful, though they remain in place while appeals continue.
This new proposal, based on forced labor concerns, would affect major partners like Canada, Japan, Norway, Taiwan, and China, and would allow Trump to bypass earlier court limits on his protectionist policies. It comes as the US also threatens to impose new 25% tariffs on Brazil.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said: “It’s unacceptable that our most important trading partners haven’t stopped importing goods made with forced labor. This forces American workers to compete on an uneven global playing field. We won’t tolerate this imbalance any longer.”
The threat of more tariff disruptions will unsettle trading partners, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who have worked hard to build trust with Trump and manage the costs of trading with his unpredictable administration.
Experts had predicted that Trump, who has long seen tariffs as a key tool for national economic security, would try to find a way around the Supreme Court’s February ruling. At the time, he threatened to use tariffs in a “much more powerful and obnoxious way,” with at least six other legal options to punish countries he sees as risky to the US economy.
These latest tariffs come from investigations into the labor laws of 60 trading partners, using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. According to a 98-page report on the investigation, “only Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan have not failed to impose a forced labor import ban.”
However, the White House judged that Canada isn’t enforcing its laws properly, and in the EU, a broad ban on imports made with forced labor won’t take effect until December 2027. This means both could face tariffs.
The report said the EU, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, and the UK would face 10% tariffs, while China, Japan, India, South Korea, Brazil, and Switzerland would face 12.5% tariffs.
The new tariffs won’t take effect right away and are subject to public comment and review.
The European Commission said the EU “fully shares” US concerns about forced labor but “considers tariffs imposed on these grounds to be unjustified.” It said it remains committed to the deal from last July, which set 15% tariffs on most goods, and expects the US “to fully respect the terms” of that agreement.
The UK government said it has already addressed forced labor through laws like the Modern Slavery Act. A spokesperson said: “We continue to talk regularly with the US administration as part of our negotiations, and have made clear the actions we’re taking. The preferential access UK businesses have under our current agreement remains in place, and there is no change to the UK’s tariff rate.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Trumps threatened tariffs over forced labor allegations written in a natural conversational tone with clear answers
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q What is Trump threatening to do
A Hes threatening to put extra taxescalled tariffson goods coming into the US from 60 countries including the UK and Canada
Q Why is he threatening to do this
A He says its because these countries allow or dont do enough to stop forced laborpeople being made to work against their will often in terrible conditions
Q What is a tariff
A Its a tax a country charges on goods imported from another country Usually the company that brings the goods in pays the tax but they often raise their prices so you end up paying more
Q How would this affect me
A You might pay more for things made in those countries like clothes electronics or food If the UK or Canada is targeted prices on things like Canadian lumber or British cars could go up
Q Are the UK and Canada actually using forced labor
A Not in the way you might think The allegation is that they arent stopping forced labor in their supply chainsmeaning products from other countries might pass through them Its not about workers in London or Toronto
IntermediateLevel Questions
Q Why 60 countries That seems like a lot
A Yes its a very broad move The idea is to pressure many countries at once to crack down on forced labor globally Critics say its too blunt and could hurt US businesses and consumers more than it helps
Q Is this about trade wars or human rights
A Trump frames it as a human rights issuestopping forced labor But many see it as a trade weapon Tariffs can be used to punish countries protect US industries or force better trade deals The forced labor label gives it a moral reason
Q What happens if a country doesnt change
A The tariffs would go into effect That means higher costs for US companies importing from that country The country could also retaliate by putting tariffs on US goods starting a trade war
