The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering imposing additional import tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on 60 countries. According to Reuters, the primary justification for these stringent protectionist measures stems from Washington’s accusations that key trading partners fail to limit the circulation of goods produced using forced labor. This initiative follows an extensive investigation by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). According to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the current tolerance of foreign governments for these practices is unacceptable, as it places American workers at a significant disadvantage in the global market, forcing them to compete directly with producers that violate human rights.

Under the plan developed by the agency, the 10% tariff would affect a broad group of countries and regional blocs, including Canada, Ecuador, European Union member states, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. For another 45 countries, whose market regulation and anti-exploitation policies have been deemed least effective by US authorities following special reviews, higher tariffs of 12.5% would be applied. The White House emphasizes that these new tariffs aim to level the playing field in international commerce and compel partners to enhance oversight of their supply chains.

This current wave of tariff actions by Washington is part of a broader and more aggressive strategy by the Trump administration to revise global trade relationships. Previously, the US announced plans to impose a special 25% tariff on certain categories of goods from Brazil, accusing the BRICS nation of engaging in unfair trade practices. International economic analysts note that invoking the issue of forced labor allows the White House to find new legal justifications for erecting protectionist barriers around the American economy, despite significant discontent from European and Asian capitals.