Trump tariff rates hit 60 economies over forced labor rules
Trump’s new forced-labor tariffs hit 60 economies at 10% or 12.5%, replacing levies that expired early Friday.
By Frankie Delgado · News Reporter
2 min read
Trump tariff rates of 10% and 12.5% took effect Friday on goods from 60 economies, according to the White House, in a new trade action tied to forced labor enforcement.
The tariff schedule was announced Thursday evening and began at 12:01 a.m. Friday. The White House said the measures were imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and replace Section 122 levies that expired early Friday morning.
The administration says the affected trading partners have not adequately barred imports made with forced labor. A senior administration official described the move as “the most sweeping international labor rights action the United States has ever taken, that any country has ever taken.”
According to U.S. officials, economies that have taken steps to ban forced labor are assigned a 10% tariff, while those the administration says do not effectively prohibit the practice face 12.5%.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said the action covers 99.4% of U.S. imports.
Which countries are affected by Trump tariff rates?
The new list splits the 60 economies into two brackets: 19 face the 10% tariff, while 41 face the 12.5% rate. The administration says all of them fail to impose and effectively enforce a ban on importing goods produced with forced labor.
The 10% tariff applies to goods from these economies, according to the White House schedule:
- Argentina
- Bangladesh
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- European Union
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- Taiwan
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United Kingdom
The 12.5% tariff applies to goods from these economies, according to the same schedule:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Brazil
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- Guyana
- Hong Kong
- Iraq
- Israel
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Libya
- Morocco
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Oman
- Peru
- The Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Turkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
What changed on Friday?
The old Section 122 levies ended early Friday, and the new Section 301 schedule immediately replaced them. The new rates are narrower in range, with the White House setting two levels across the listed economies: 10% and 12.5%.
The administration’s stated reason is labor enforcement, specifically whether countries block imports of goods made with forced labor. The USTR said the trade action reaches nearly all U.S. imports, making the practical sweep broad even though the listed rates vary by economy.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.