The United States has introduced a new round of tariffs on 60 of its largest trading partners, marking the latest escalation in the trade dispute revived by President Donald Trump following his return to office. The measures apply to countries including the United Kingdom, China and the European Union, with import duties ranging from 10% to 12.5% on nearly all goods entering the US market.
The tariffs replace an identical temporary levy that expired on Friday. The Trump administration said the new duties are intended to address concerns that major trading partners have not done enough to eliminate forced labour from their supply chains.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the latest action aims to tackle both human rights abuses and unfair trade practices while improving conditions for workers worldwide. According to the administration, the tariffs cover the top 60 US trading partners, representing 99.4% of total American imports.
However, several trade experts questioned the administration’s justification. Caroline Freund, Dean of the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, argued that the tariffs are primarily designed to support Trump’s broader trade agenda rather than address forced labour concerns. She said the administration appears to be using forced labour as a legal basis to maintain import duties after earlier tariff measures were challenged in court.
Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled that several tariffs imposed under emergency powers had been introduced unlawfully. The decision forced the administration to explore alternative legal mechanisms to continue its trade policy.
Trade policy specialist Deborah Elms of the Hinrich Foundation said the new measures demonstrate that the Trump administration remains committed to its tariff strategy. She added that many affected countries are unlikely to satisfy Washington’s requirements for proving their supply chains are free from forced labour.
Economists also warned that the new import duties could increase costs for businesses and consumers, although exemptions on selected products may help reduce the overall impact. Wendy Cutler, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, said many governments are likely to respond by seeking stronger trade relationships outside the United States to reduce their reliance on the American market.
In the United Kingdom, business leaders expressed concern that the country’s trading position has weakened compared with the European Union. British Chambers of Commerce head William Bain said the EU secured a 10% all-inclusive tariff arrangement, while British exports face the universal tariff in addition to product-specific duties. He noted that many UK businesses will be looking for the government to negotiate terms similar to those obtained by the EU.
David Henig, director of UK trade policy at the European Centre for International Political Economy, said the UK’s position has deteriorated slightly but cautioned that US trade policy under Trump remains unpredictable, making it difficult for businesses to alter long-term investment plans.
The UK government maintained that there would be no immediate changes to the tariff rates already facing British exporters and reiterated its commitment to preventing forced labour in global supply chains.
Several countries criticized the new measures. Brazil described the 12.5% tariff imposed on its exports as unjustified, while Japan expressed regret over Washington’s decision. Australia’s Trade Minister Don Farrell also condemned the tariffs, calling them completely unjustified.
China rejected the accusations underpinning the new policy, insisting there is no forced labour within the country and accusing the United States of using the issue for political purposes. However, international human rights organizations have repeatedly reported allegations of forced labour involving Muslim ethnic minorities in China’s Xinjiang region.
Tariffs have remained a central pillar of Trump’s economic strategy. He has consistently argued that import duties protect American industries, strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce trade deficits. In April 2025, his administration imposed tariffs of up to 50% on several trading partners during what was branded “Liberation Day,” although those measures were later struck down by the US Supreme Court.
Despite that setback, Washington has continued pursuing alternative tariff policies while also maintaining separate trade actions against countries including Brazil and Canada. The United States and China remain engaged in a suspended tariff dispute, and the administration is currently investigating 16 additional countries over claims of manufacturing overcapacity, raising the possibility of further import duties in the coming months.
