United States Imposes New Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners

The United States has announced new tariffs on 60 trading partners, citing escalating concerns over forced labor practices. These measures supersede earlier tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump, which expired this year. The new duties, effective Friday, vary between 10% and 12.5%, impacting major global economies including China, India, and the European Union. US Trade Representative Jameson Greer stated, "For nearly a century, the United States has strictly enforced a ban on importing goods produced through forced labor, and now it is time for our trading partners to follow suit." The Trump administration had quickly sought to preserve its tariff policy after the Supreme Court largely nullified previous duties, ruling that Trump had misinterpreted the law to justify them, thereby limiting his ability to impose high tariffs at will. Following this legal setback, the administration had implemented temporary 10% tariffs under a different law, allowing such additional duties for a maximum of 150 days; these also expired last Friday. Now, an alternative package of tariffs, initially proposed in June, is taking effect, designed to be more robust and resilient against legal challenges than prior measures.