Donald Trump will press ahead with a new 10% import tariff on UK goods after time-limited levies introduced by the president in response to a Supreme Court defeat expire on Friday
US President Donald Trump(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Donald Trump will steam ahead with fresh 10% import duties on British goods after temporary levies imposed by the president following a Supreme Court setback lapse on Friday, a US trade representative confirmed.
The US is issuing the tariffs on 60 trading partners due to claims they failed to stop forced labour.
However, under the rules the UK could be eligible for exemptions on products where it would encourage compliance in meeting this commitment.
The duties range from 10% to 12.5%, targeting key economic partners, including the UK, EU, Canada, Japan and India and come into effect on Friday, July 24.
It is the latest development in the trade war which was sparked when Trump returned to office in January last year.
It was ruled last year by the Supreme Court that global tariffs were illegally enforce, stopping the president from imposing them.
But since then Trump has sought other legal avenues to push through his trade policy.
The US administration says the levies are being slapped on 60 economies “for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour”.
It added that the action followed investigations by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which included public hearings, more than 2,100 public comments, and engagement with trading partners “to remedy these longstanding concerns”.
Mr Greer said: “President Trump recognises that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labour from global supply chains.
“The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it. It’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same.
“Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere.
“I am encouraged by the trading partners who have moved quickly to adopt forced labour import prohibitions, and look forward to ensuring their effective enforcement.”
However, the USTR also said there would be product exemptions, where tariffs would lead to a shortage of raw materials domestically, cause economy-wide disruptions or where items cannot be grown or produced in sufficient quantity or at a reasonable price in the US.
There would also be an exemption for products from the UK and other named countries where “that would encourage these economies to fulfil commitments regarding forced labour import prohibitions or to enact and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition”.
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