US President Donald Trump has announced potential tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on 60 countries, including the UK, Canada, the European Union, Japan, and Australia, citing inadequate enforcement of forced labour import bans. The move follows a February Supreme Court ruling that invalidated his earlier "liberation day" tariffs, prompting Trump to impose a 10% blanket tariff later challenged and ruled unlawful by a US trade court last month, though it remains in effect during appeal. The new proposal, grounded in a 98-page investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, claims only Canada, Ecuador, the EU, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan have enacted forced labour import prohibitions. However, the White House asserts Canada is not enforcing its laws effectively, while the EU's full ban will not start until December 2027, leaving both vulnerable to the proposed 10% tariffs. Countries facing 12.5% tariffs include China, Japan, India, South Korea, Brazil, and Switzerland. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said American workers face an uneven global playing field due to the importation of goods made with forced labour. The European Commission responded by affirming shared concerns on forced labour but argued that new tariffs contradict last July's agreement, which the EU expects the US to uphold. The proposed measures allow Trump to sidestep previous court restrictions on his trade policies. The US also threatens a 25% tariff on Brazil. Public review will precede any implementation.
Trump demands strict enforcement of forced labour rules while maintaining tariffs already ruled illegal by US courts. His administration targets trading partners like the EU and Canada for future violations, even as it disregards past rulings on its own actions. The hypocrisy undermines the moral weight of the forced labour argument. Enforcement appears selective, shaped more by political leverage than consistent principle.
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