Donald Trump
The United States will impose tariffs ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent on imports from 60 trading partners, which account for 99 percent of U.S. imports, accusing them of failing to adequately enforce bans on goods produced using forced labor, according to asiaone.com.
“The United States has had a ban on imports of goods produced using forced labor for nearly a century, and it is strictly enforced; it is high time our trading partners did the same,” said U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer.
The new tariffs will take effect simultaneously with the expiration of the temporary 10 percent tariffs worldwide at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
Trump resorted to these temporary tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down his most sweeping tariffs in February.
He is now imposing longer-term tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose import taxes and other sanctions against countries found to be engaging in “unreasonable,” “unreasonable,” or “discriminatory” trade practices.
It is known that the 60 countries under investigation include Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. It is not yet clear whether goods from Moldova will be subject to these new duties.
