Full Breakdown
U.S. Forced-Labor Tariff Proposal Targets 60 Economies
6/5/2026, 8:39:31 PM
Core Proposal and Legal Basis
On 2 June 2026 USTR Jamieson Greer announced a Section 301 plan to add duties of 10 percent or 12.5 percent on imports from 60 countries. The move follows a February Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump’s emergency tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. A 10 percent global levy under Section 122 expires on 24 July 2026; new tariffs will replace it under Section 301 authority.
Tariff Schedule
Six economies—Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan—receive a 10 percent rate for having laws but insufficient enforcement. Remaining 54 economies, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Switzerland, Australia, the United Kingdom and Norway, face a 12.5 percent duty.
Exemptions
A 76-page annex excludes energy, rare-earth metals, beef, coffee, selected fruits and vegetables, pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals and aircraft parts. The USTR also proposes a textile mechanism allowing a volume of apparel to enter at a reduced rate.
Official Statements
Greer said the action “protects American workers from an unlevel playing field.” Norway’s foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said Norway was “among the first to introduce legislation to prevent forced labour.” UK noted engagement with Washington and compliance with its Modern Slavery Act. Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney noted CUSMA exemptions shield most Canadian exports. Singapore’s trade ministry said it “does not condone forced labour” and is assessing the impact.
Opposition and Criticism
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International warned tariffs may be “counterproductive” and lack enforcement power. European Parliament trade-committee chair Bernd Lange called the findings “utterly absurd.” Chinese foreign-ministry spokesperson Mao Ning denied forced-labour issue, calling the move “political manipulation,” while Australian trade minister Don Farrell called the tariffs “unjustified.”
Conflicting Views
Norway says it has a robust forced-labour law, but USTR says fails to prevent imports. EU points to a 2024 regulation that will ban forced-labour products from December 2027, which USTR says is not yet effective. Singapore and the Philippines report no evidence of forced-labour links, underscoring a gap between U.S. assessments and domestic enforcement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable.” — Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative
- “We strongly disagree with the U.S. authorities' assessment that Norway is not doing enough to prevent forced labour,” — Espen Barth Eide, Norwegian Foreign Minister
- “Accusing the EU of not doing enough against forced labour is absurd.” — Bernd Lange, European Parliament Trade Committee Chair
- “There is no such thing as forced labour in China, and we oppose using it as an excuse to engage in political manipulation,” — Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Next Steps
USTR will accept comments until 6 July 2026, with a hearing on 7 July. Final duties will be set after the review and after the 10 percent baseline expires on 24 July. Parallel Section 301 probes into excess capacity in 16 partners are slated for release soon.
