‘Extremely disappointing’: US trade partners respond to Trump’s new tariffs - Al Jazeera

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that governments and trade groups reacted on Friday to a new round of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration, a day after Washington announced duties on goods from more than 80 countries. The measures range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent and were justified under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, with the administration saying the targeted countries had not done enough to block imports linked to forced labour.

Several affected partners rejected that basis. Australia’s trade minister, Don Farrell, denied that Australia was lax on modern slavery and said Canberra would keep pressing Washington to reverse the tariffs. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the move as deeply disappointing and said the US investigation had not shown meaningful evidence for the forced labour claim. Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Minoru Kihara, also objected, while noting Tokyo had confirmed with Washington that its total tariff rate would remain within a 15 percent ceiling agreed last year.

Responses varied elsewhere. The United Kingdom said the announcement would not worsen conditions for its exports, citing earlier US-UK arrangements and US recognition of British action on supply-chain labour risks. The European Commission said the outcome appeared consistent with commitments in an EU-US joint statement. China criticised the 12.5 percent levy and repeated its opposition to tariff and trade wars. In India, textile exporters warned that exemptions granted to some competitors, especially for products using US cotton, could shift sourcing away from Indian firms.

The dispute matters because it extends Trump’s broader tariff strategy after earlier trade measures faced legal and political setbacks, including a Supreme Court ruling against his reciprocal tariffs, according to Al Jazeera.