US imposes new tariffs on dozens of trade partners over 'forced labour' imports

The Trump administration has imposed new tariffs of at least 10% on imports from 60 countries over claims they failed to prevent forced labour. 

The duties, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, target trading partners that make up the majority of US imports - including the UK, Canada, China, Mexico and the EU - and will come into effect today, just as the current levies are set to expire.

They will effectively replace the 10% global duty that Donald Trump imposed in February, following a Supreme Court ruling that declared his previous levies illegal.

As a result of that ruling, the US has paid out $81bn in tariff refunds so far this fiscal year - which began in October 2025 - compared to £5bn the year before.

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), acting under the president's direction, said the new measures had been introduced after an investigation it said had found the impacted economies to have failed to "impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour".

US trade representative Jamieson Greer said the tariffs "will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere".

Mr Greer said the measures would fall under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which the USTR said is intended to address unfair trade practices.

He added: "I am encouraged by the trading partners who have moved quickly to adopt forced labour import prohibitions, and look forward to ensuring their effective enforcement."

However, the USTR said there would be exemptions, including instances where the tariffs would lead to a shortage of materials, or where items cannot be grown or produced in sufficient quantity or at a reasonable price domestically.

'No change' for UK

It also said that certain products from the UK - which is facing a 10% tariff - and other named countries could be exempt, where it would "encourage these economies to fulfil commitments regarding labour import prohibitions".

A spokesperson for the UK government said: "There is no change to the tariff rate facing UK businesses as a result of this announcement.

"The UK remains on a 10% tariff rate and the preferential access secured under our agreement with the United States remains in place.

"We take forced labour very seriously and ensure that in global supply chains UK businesses are not complicit in forced labour and human rights violations.

"The US has recognised the steps the UK is taking, which is why there are no additional tariffs for the UK under this announcement."

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'Arbitrary and unjustified'

The measures have drawn criticism from a number of affected nations, with Brazil, which faces a 12.5% tariff, calling the move "arbitrary and unjustified" and threatening retaliatory levies.

Meanwhile, Australia's trade minister, Don Farrell, said the tariffs were "inconsistent with our free trade agreement" and "should be removed".

The new duties come just a few days after the US announced it will impose 50% tariffs on goods from Canada, claiming the measures were in response to the country's "continued discrimination".

The levies are due to come into effect within 30 days, meaning 19 August, and threaten to revive a trade war with Canada sparked during the president's "Liberation Day" spree of tariffs last April.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said that if the measures come into force, there was "a full range of things" that Canada could do.

Mr Carney said that "everything's on the table" if an agreement could not be reached before the tariffs kick in, and insisted "it would be counterproductive at this stage to respond in advance".

(c) Sky News 2026: US imposes new tariffs on dozens of trade partners over 'forced labour' imports