Trump’s latest ‘forced labour tariffs’: Who’s been hit, how badly?

Lead

The United States has imposed new double-digit tariffs on imports from dozens of countries, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, citing inadequate enforcement of bans on goods produced by forced labor. The tariffs, announced under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, affect 60 countries that account for 99% of US imports. They took effect just as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs expired, a measure President Donald Trump had turned to after a Supreme Court defeat in February.

Coverage comparison

Reports from Al Jazeera and France 24 — English detail the tariff structure: countries with laws against forced labor face a 10% tariff, while those without such laws face 12.5%. AllAfrica's coverage focuses on the impact on African nations, noting that Namibia was exempted from the new tariffs, while seven other African countries are affected. Deutsche Welle reports the tariffs are imposed under Section 301, which allows the president to impose import taxes and sanctions against countries found to engage in unfair trade practices.

Key claims

• The US has imposed tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, as reported by Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, France 24 — English, and The Guardian — World.
• The tariffs are based on a finding that many trading partners failed to prevent goods made with forced labor from entering their supply chains, as reported by AllAfrica.
• Countries with laws against forced labor face a 10% tariff, while those without face 12.5%, according to Al Jazeera and France 24 — English.
• Namibia is exempt from the new tariffs, a claim carried by AllAfrica.
• Seven African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Angola, are affected, according to AllAfrica.
• The US Trade Representative's office has launched a probe into whether 16 countries have overproduced goods, potentially leading to more tariffs, as reported by Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle.
• The new tariffs take effect as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs expire, according to multiple reports.
• Some products, including oil and gas and fertiliser, are exempt from the new tariffs, as reported by AllAfrica.
• Human rights watchers suggest the tariffs could impact the problem of forced labor, according to France 24 — English.
• The International Labour Organization estimates that about 27.6 million people were in forced labor worldwide on any given day in 2021, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

The Guardian — World offers a contrasting view from the perspective of small and medium-sized businesses in the US. The article, written by a tax consultant, describes the reaction to the new tariffs as a "snoozefest," noting that the new rates are significantly lower than previous tariffs, which reached as high as 145% on Chinese goods. Refunds from prior tariffs, approximately $122bn, are also helping businesses, making the new tariffs more manageable. The piece suggests that the new tariffs, while not insignificant, are less severe than earlier measures.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, quoted in France 24 — English, defends the tariffs as correcting "what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere."