The United States imposes new import tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners, starting Friday, replacing a temporary 10% global tariff that expires the same day. The new duties range from 10% to 12.5% and are set to cover nearly all U.S. imports, with reports stating they apply to more than 99% of goods entering the country. The administration says the tariffs are based on concerns about forced labour, alleging that the affected countries have not adequately enforced prohibitions on importing goods made with forced labour. The measures are presented as part of the administration’s efforts to rebuild a broad tariff framework after earlier plans were blocked.

In February, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s earlier reciprocal tariff approach. The temporary 10% global tariff that preceded this move was introduced following that ruling and remained in place for about 150 days. Multiple reports also note that the decision draws protests and criticism from trading partners, including the European Union and China, with some questioning the forced-labour rationale. Analysts cited by one outlet describe it as a rationale for expanding tariff barriers.