US targets 60 countries with fresh 10-12.5% tariffs over forced labour

The US Trade Representative (USTR) is pushing for new tariffs between 10% and 12.5% on 60 global economies, citing their failure to crack down on forced labour. The move is part of President Donald Trump's effort to rebuild his tariff agenda after the Supreme Court struck down previous duties in February 2026.

A USTR filing on Tuesday targets 54 economies—including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the UK—for allegedly lacking forced labour import prohibitions. Another six, including Canada, Mexico, and the EU, were flagged for failing to effectively enforce their existing bans. The USTR argues this creates an "unlevel playing field" for American workers.

Certain goods like beef, coffee, specific fruits, nuts, and some textiles are exempt from the proposed duties. Goods from Canada and Mexico that comply with the North American free trade pact will also be spared.

The USTR will hold public hearings after a written comment period ending July 6.

While no West African nation is explicitly named in this current probe, aggressive shifts in US trade policy heavily disrupt global supply chains. With the US actively restructuring its import dependencies, could Nigerian non-oil export sectors position themselves to fill emerging trade gaps?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/03/us-threatens-fresh-tariffs-against-60-countries-gives-reason/