US imposes tariffs on dozens of trade partners, citing forced labour concerns
The United States has imposed new tariffs on sixty trading partners over claims they failed to properly stop forced labour.
The duties which came into effect on Friday, as a temporary 10% tax on foreign goods introduced earlier this year expired, target key economic partners – including the UK, China, the European Union, Canada, Japan and India.
The move is the latest escalation in the global trade war reignited by US President Donald Trump when he returned to office last year.
The president has since sought other ways to pursue his flagship trade policy.
It said so far 10 trading partners had agreed to enact such a ban in these agreements, and other countries had implemented bans in response to its investigations in recent weeks.
The new levies, which are likely to raise costs for businesses and consumers, show the Trump administration is determined to push on with its tariff strategy and it is unlikely countries hit with tariffs will be able to prove that they have sufficient measures to prevent forced labour imports.
