Trump Administration Imposes New 12.5% Tariffs on Imports from Dozens of Countries

The US has announced the application of new tariffs on goods from nearly 60 different countries. According to Washington, these actions are part of efforts to combat the exploitation of workers under forced labor conditions, although the European Union and other allies immediately dismissed these claims.

The new measures, which came into force on Friday, provide for taxes ranging from 10% to 12.5% on products imported from these countries, which together account for almost all the volumes of goods entering the American market.

The Trump administration’s main argument is that the decision is based on a multi-year investigation, which suspects that forced labor was used in the production of these exports to the United States, and that the respective countries have not taken steps to stop this phenomenon.

Reactions were swift. The European Union described the initiative as an “unpleasant surprise” and categorically denied accusations of involvement in forced labor practices. Switzerland, Australia, and Brazil took a similar critical stance, while Norway stated it has no intention of responding with reciprocal measures against US products.

American officials clarified that imports of oil, gas, and certain other items that cannot be produced within US borders are exempt from these duties. According to the White House, the goal of the new scheme is to bring more stability and predictability to the business community, putting an end to the frequent fluctuations in trade policy observed over the past year.