President Donald Trump announced double-digit tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners on Thursday to combat forced-labor violations [1], [2].
The move represents a massive shift in U.S. trade policy, as the new duties impact the vast majority of goods entering the country. By targeting forced labor, the administration is linking economic penalties directly to human rights standards across a global supply chain.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the plan applies tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% [2], [3]. These measures cover approximately 99.4% of all U.S. imports [1]. The administration said the action is necessary to address forced-labor violations within the exporting nations [1], [5].
This announcement follows a Senate Finance Committee hearing held on July 22 [2]. During that session, lawmakers and officials discussed the framework for these trade penalties, and the legal mechanisms used to implement them.
The scale of the tariffs is unprecedented, affecting 60 foreign countries [1]. The administration's approach utilizes Section 301 of the Trade Act to levy these duties, focusing on the systemic nature of labor abuses in the targeted regions [1].
Because the tariffs encompass nearly all imports, the impact will be felt across multiple sectors, from electronics to textiles. The administration said this is a necessary step to ensure that U.S. consumers are not supporting forced labor through their purchases [5].
“New double-digit duties cover nearly all US imports.”
By applying tariffs to 99.4% of imports, the U.S. is effectively transitioning from targeted sanctions to a near-universal trade barrier. This strategy uses forced-labor violations as the primary justification for broad economic pressure, which may lead to increased costs for U.S. consumers and potential retaliatory measures from the 60 affected trading partners.
