The Trump administration will impose new tariffs on 60 countries that fail to enforce bans on imports made with forced labor, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced Wednesday. The duties — either 10% or 12.5% depending on the country — target nations that aren’t doing enough to keep goods produced by slaves and indentured workers out of American stores.
The move marks Washington’s most aggressive attempt yet to force trading partners to crack down on forced labor in their supply chains. For American consumers, it means higher prices on goods from dozens of countries are likely coming, though administration officials argue the cost is necessary to prevent U.S. dollars from funding modern slavery abroad.
Greer didn’t name which 60 countries would face the new levies, but said the administration identified them after reviewing how nations enforce their own forced labor import restrictions. Countries found lacking will face the additional tariffs on top of any duties already in place.
The tariffs come as American families already face elevated costs from previous rounds of Trump administration trade actions. Grocery prices remain 23% higher than they were in early 2021, according to Labor Department data, and many household goods cost significantly more after several years of tariff escalation with China and other major exporters.
But the administration argues the forced labor crackdown addresses a moral imperative that outweighs short-term price concerns. Millions of people worldwide work in conditions amounting to slavery, producing everything from seafood to electronics to cotton. When those goods enter U.S. commerce, American consumers unknowingly fund human trafficking operations.
The practical question for American retailers and manufacturers is how quickly they can verify their supply chains don’t touch forced labor. Companies importing from the 60 targeted countries will need to prove their goods are clean or absorb the new tariffs — costs many will pass to shoppers.
Small businesses face particular pressure. Unlike major corporations with compliance departments, mom-and-pop importers often lack resources to audit overseas suppliers. The new tariffs could force them to find new sources or eat higher costs that squeeze already tight margins.
The administration hasn’t announced when the tariffs take effect or how countries can avoid them by improving enforcement. Those details will determine whether this becomes a genuine forced labor crackdown or another permanent layer of trade friction that raises prices without solving the underlying problem.
Key Points
- 60 countries will face new tariffs of 10% or 12.5% for failing to block imports made with forced labor
- The administration hasn’t disclosed which countries or when tariffs begin, leaving businesses scrambling to assess supply chain risk
- American consumers likely face higher prices on goods from affected nations, adding to inflation pressures that have grocery costs up 23% since 2021
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/trump-administration-plans-new-tariffs-60-trading-partners-over-forced-labor-import-enforcement-failures – June 04, 2026
