President Trump's Proposed Tariffs on Forced Labour Criticized for Ineffectiveness
President Donald Trump has proposed new tariffs on imports from 60 countries accused of failing to curb forced labour practices. The tariffs, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, are part of a Section 301 investigation aimed at restoring emergency tariffs previously struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Critics, including human rights groups and trade experts, argue that these tariffs will do little to address the issue of modern slavery and may even exacerbate the problem. The International Labour Organization estimates that 27.6 million people are currently in forced labour, with nearly half in export-related sectors. The European Union, a major U.S. trading partner, has rejected the tariffs, citing its own Forced Labour Regulation set to apply in December 2027, which requires a higher standard of proof for violations than U.S. rules. 
