WASHINGTON: The United States has imposed tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent on more than 60 trading partners for failing to prevent forced labor.
The new tariffs have been in effect since July 24, and Pakistan is among the countries on which a 10 percent tariff is being imposed.
This new move by the White House is an attempt to revive President Donald Trump’s global tariff doctrine.
In February 2026, the US Supreme Court had declared invalid the implementation of additional tariffs of 10 to 50 percent imposed by President Trump on goods from various countries.
This time, the Trump administration is imposing tariffs on more than 60 countries using Section 301 of the US Trade Act.
According to US officials, these countries have failed to ban the import of goods produced through forced labor and effectively enforce the laws in this regard.
A 10% tariff has been imposed on goods from Argentina, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago.
Imports from 38 other countries will be subject to a 12.5% tariff.
Some US trading partners, such as Australia and Brazil, have reacted strongly, saying that the new tariffs are unfair and that they will seek to have them repealed, while Norway said that they are being imposed on unfounded allegations.
The new tariffs do not include various imported goods such as crude oil, natural gas, certain food products and goods, including fertilizers.
Similarly, goods such as steel, vehicles, aluminum and copper, etc., which are already included in the Section 232 National Security Tariff, will also not be implemented.
