The United States has imposed new tariffs on 60 trading partners, covering the vast majority of its imports, over claims that they failed to take adequate action against forced labour.
The duties, ranging from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent, target major economic partners, including the UK, China, the European Union, Canada, Japan and India. They took effect on Friday after a temporary 10 per cent tariff on foreign goods introduced earlier this year expired, reports BBC.
The move marks the latest escalation in the global trade war revived by US President Donald Trump after he returned to office last year.
Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled that many tariffs imposed globally under emergency powers had been enacted unlawfully.
Trump has since sought alternative ways to pursue his flagship trade policy.
Last month, the White House proposed tariffs of between 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent on imports from dozens of countries, citing concerns that they were not doing enough to combat forced labour.
On Thursday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, acting under Trump’s direction, announced that the duties would take effect.
“Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and a distortive trade practice, while improving the welfare of workers everywhere,” Greer said in a statement.
