A forced-labor crackdown or an end-run around Congress? Dissecting Trump’s new tariffs - AP News

What the report says

The Associated Press reports that the Trump administration has placed new double-digit tariffs on more than 60 countries, citing a trade-law provision that lets the president impose import taxes or other penalties over unfair trade practices. The measures, set at either 10% or 12.5%, were announced as temporary 10% global tariffs expired. According to AP, the administration says the countries failed to ban or adequately police imports made with forced labor.

The tariffs were imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a tool Trump previously used against China during his first term. Critics interviewed by AP argue the move functions as a way to preserve broad tariff authority without congressional approval after earlier worldwide tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court. The U.S. Trade Representative said it conducted a four-month review, consulted affected economies, held hearings and received more than 2,100 public comments, but it did not publicly explain in detail how it assigned rates to individual countries.

Several governments and industries challenged the rationale. Brazil called its 12.5% tariff arbitrary, while Australia said it takes modern slavery seriously. The National Council of Textile Organizations criticized exemptions for some textile and apparel imports tied to U.S. cotton and textile purchases, warning they could undercut domestic manufacturers.

AP notes the dispute comes amid broader questions about how effectively forced-labor import bans work. U.S. laws allow authorities to block suspect goods, including products linked to China’s Xinjiang region, but past AP investigations found forced labor-tainted seafood and palm oil entering major supply chains. Trade and legal experts cited by AP said a stronger approach would require clearer standards, more transparency and help for countries building enforcement systems.