Proposed duties of up to 12.5% will undergo public review before a final decision is made
Image:Reuters
The United States has proposed new tariffs on 60 economies, including Pakistan, over concerns about the enforcement of measures against goods produced with forced labour.
According to a filing by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the proposed duties range from 10% to 12.5% and will be subject to a public comment period before a final decision is reached.
The move follows investigations launched by Washington into several major trading partners, including China, the European Union and Japan, to assess their efforts to block imports linked to forced labour.
The USTR said 54 economies failed to impose and effectively enforce forced labour import bans, while six others — including Pakistan — were found not to have effectively enforced existing prohibitions.
USTR chief Jamieson Greer said the failure of key trading partners to address forced labour concerns creates unfair competition for American workers. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until July 6 before hearings and a final review take place.
