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 levies on dozens of countries, arguing 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 of the countries investigated would face a 12.5% ​​tariff 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 invalidated a good part of the general tariffs promoted by Trump at the beginning of the year.

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 using other legal tools covered in the Trade Act of 1974.

In this case, the new tariffs are based on the so-called Section 301, a provision that allows trade practices considered unfair to be investigated and economic sanctions to be applied 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 importation of products made with forced labor,” Greer said.

Economic impact

The proposal will still have to go through a public consultation process before coming into effect, so the tariffs will not be immediate. In addition, some products would be exempt, including beef, coffee and tomatoes.

The move could spark new trade tensions at a time when the global economy faces signs of slowing. While the Trump administration maintains that tariffs protect American workers and correct unfair practices, many economists warn that these policies often pass additional costs on to consumers and businesses.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has noted that these new mechanisms could gradually replace the temporary tariffs imposed 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 part of international trade with the United States, reviving the economic disputes that characterized his previous mandate.

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