New tariffs target imports tied to forced labor as trade policy takes effect

A new trade policy took effect Friday, imposing a fresh round of tariffs on global trading partners tied to allegations that they have failed to stop forced labor used to make products imported into the United States. The new tariffs apply to 60 countries and range from 10% to 12.5%. Products from those countries make up 99% of U.S. imports. “We have put our foot down, and we have told the countries, you need to take action. You need to prohibit the import of goods made with forced labor, and you need to enforce these laws so that we all have a level playing field,” Jamieson Greer, the United States trade representative, said Thursday. Tariffs are a tax on imported goods and are typically passed down to the customer. The new fees take effect as temporary 10% tariffs on trading partners expired following a Supreme Court decision that overturned President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” policy implemented last year. The new tariffs were imposed under a different section of trade law following an investigation. While some countries dispute claims that they have not done enough to address forced labor, the policy is less likely to be overturned in court. ________________ More NBC 15 news coverage at http://mynbc15.com Follow us: on BlueSky: https://mynbc15.bsky.social on Facebook:   / mynbc15   on Instagram:   / mynbc15   on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mynbc15/ on X:   / mynbc15   #localnews #nbc15 #channel15 #mobilenews