President Donald Trump’s administration has put tariffs back at the center of its economic strategy. This week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposed imposing new taxes on dozens of countries under the argument that they have not taken sufficient measures to prevent the importation of products made with forced labor.
The proposal reaches 60 US trading partners, including some of its most important markets, such as China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and the European Union.
According to the USTR, most The countries investigated would face a tariff of 12.5% on certain products exported to the United States. Another 16 trading partners, including Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and the European Union, would receive a reduced 10% tariff because they have shown progress or commitments to combat these labor practices.
Trump’s new trade strategy
The announcement is part of the White House’s attempt to rebuild its tariff policy after the Supreme Court At the beginning of the year, it invalidated a good part of the general tariffs promoted by Trump.
The court ruling concluded that the emergency legislation used by the government did not provide sufficient authority to impose levies so broadly. In response, the administration began to use other legal tools contemplated in the Trade Act of 1974.
In this case, The new tariffs are based on the so-called Section 301, a provision that allows the investigation of trade practices considered unfair and the application of economic sanctions when it is determined that they affect the US economy.
The United States trade representative, Jamieson Greer, defended the initiative and assured that many countries maintain insufficient controls on products linked to forced labor.
“It is unacceptable that our most important trading partners do not address the import of products made with forced labor“Greer stated.
Economic impact
The proposal must still go through a public consultation process before coming into force, so the tariffs will not be immediate. In addition, some products would be exempt, including beef, coffee and tomatoes.
The measure could generate new trade tensions at a time when the global economy faces signs of a slowdown. While the administration Trump says tariffs protect American workers and correct unfair practices, many economists warn that these policies often pass additional costs on to consumers and companies.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has noted that These new mechanisms could gradually replace temporary tariffs.s taxes after the judicial setback.
“I firmly believe that tariff rates will return to their previous level within five months,” Bessent stated in an interview with CNBC.
If finalized, the proposal would mark a new stage in Trump’s trade policy and could affect a significant portion of international trade with the United States, reviving the economic disputes that characterized his previous mandate.
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