The United States is introducing fresh tariffs on goods from around 60 trading partners, including Thailand, accusing them of failing to take sufficient action against imports linked to forced labour.
The duties, set at either 10% or 12.5%, affect major US economic partners including the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, Japan and India. Thailand, China and Vietnam are among 38 trading partners assigned the higher 12.5% rate.
They take effect on Friday, when a temporary 10% levy on foreign goods introduced earlier this year is due to expire.
The measures mark another significant step in the global trade conflict revived by US President Donald Trump following his return to the White House last year.
Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled that many of the tariffs imposed under emergency presidential powers had been introduced unlawfully. The decision forced the administration to pursue alternative legal mechanisms to advance Trump’s signature trade agenda.
The White House first proposed the latest duties last month, arguing that dozens of countries were not doing enough to prevent goods produced through forced labour from entering international supply chains.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed on Thursday that the tariffs would now be implemented under Trump’s direction.
“Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere,” his statement said.
Greer invoked Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows Washington to respond to foreign practices considered unfair, discriminatory or harmful to American commerce.
The administration used a separate law earlier this week, Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, to introduce tariffs of 50% on certain Canadian products.
The Office of the US Trade Representative said the latest measures were aimed at countries that had failed to introduce or effectively enforce restrictions on goods produced using forced labour.
According to the agency, the tariffs cover the United States’ 60 largest trading partners, which together account for 99.4% of all American imports.
It said Trump had made forced-labour import bans a central requirement in reciprocal trade negotiations during his second term. Ten trading partners have so far agreed to introduce such restrictions, while several others have adopted similar measures following recent US investigations.
Countries that have committed to implementing and enforcing bans on forced-labour imports face the lower 10% tariff. Those that have not made such commitments are subject to the higher rate of 12.5%.
In his statement, Greer said he was “encouraged by the trading partners who have moved quickly to adopt forced labour import prohibitions, and look forward to ensuring their effective enforcement”.
Trade policy specialist Deborah Elms of the Hinrich Foundation said the announcement demonstrated the Trump administration’s determination to continue using tariffs as a central economic tool.
She said countries targeted by the measures could struggle to prove that their systems for blocking forced-labour imports were adequate.
Brazil was among the first countries to condemn the announcement, describing the measures as “unjustified” and “arbitrary”.
The Brazilian government accused Washington of exploiting an important workers’ rights issue to support a protectionist trade policy.
Brazil, which faces a new tariff of 12.5%, said it would consider retaliatory measures under its reciprocity law while exploring alternative export markets.
The latest levy follows a separate 25% US tariff introduced earlier this month on Brazilian furniture, machinery, sugar and other goods. Some products, including beef and coffee, remained exempt.
Japan also expressed regret over the decision, insisting that its trade practices comply with international rules.
Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell described the tariffs as “completely unjustified” and said Canberra would continue urging Washington to remove all duties imposed on Australian goods.
Trump has repeatedly argued that tariffs protect domestic industries, support American workers and strengthen the US economy.
In April 2025, he announced duties of up to 50% on global trading partners during an event he called “Liberation Day”, claiming the measures were necessary to address unfair treatment of the United States.
The Supreme Court struck down many of those tariffs in February, ruling that Trump had exceeded his legal authority. The decision led to tens of billions of dollars in refunds.
Since then, the White House has explored other legal routes for imposing import duties, including the temporary 10% tariff scheduled to expire on Friday.
Washington has also introduced a range of country-specific measures targeting nations including Brazil and Canada.
The United States and China remain locked in a wider trade dispute involving retaliatory tariffs, although the latest escalation is currently paused.
Trump has also used tariff threats to pressure countries such as Mexico over matters extending beyond trade.
Further duties may follow, with the administration investigating 16 countries over allegations of excessive manufacturing capacity. Those nations account for most goods imported into the United States.
