New US tariffs linked to claims of foreign forced labor dismay and anger trading partners - AP News

What the report says

The Associated Press reports that President Donald Trump’s administration announced a new round of tariffs late Thursday on 60 economies, citing what it said were failures to sufficiently enforce bans on goods made with forced labor. The duties, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, took effect as earlier temporary levies imposed after a Supreme Court setback expired at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

Several U.S. trading partners sharply rejected the rationale and the added costs. Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said in Adelaide that the claims tying Australia to modern slavery were unfounded and called the higher 12.5% tariff “completely unjustified,” saying Canberra would keep pressing the U.S. Trade Representative to remove tariffs on Australian goods. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also criticized the 12.5% duty on his country, saying tariffs increase costs and uncertainty for businesses.

AP reported that the U.S. investigation underpinning the tariff action did not offer meaningful evidence to support the forced-labor allegations. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas questioned the basis for the U.S. position, pointing to European labor protections, while Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said it would continue engaging with the USTR. Japan protested its 12.5% tariff, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara saying Tokyo believed prior understandings with Washington remained in place.

The dispute matters because tariffs can raise import costs, disrupt supply chains and strain diplomatic ties, especially when linked to sensitive claims about labor abuses. The AP article indicates affected governments are seeking clarification or relief while disputing Washington’s justification.