Trump imposes new double-digit tariffs on dozens of countries

With existing 10 percent levies set to expire, Trump issues new tariffs on 60 countries under forced labour provision.President Donald Trump is going ahead with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of trading partners of the United States just as the clock runs out on Friday on stopgap levies he announced after a stinging defeat at the Supreme Court.The US will slap levies of 10 to 12.5 percent on imports from 60 countries accounting for 99 percent of US imports, charging that they have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labour.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4US government cancels subpoena against three New York Times reporterslist 2 of 4What are the security implications of the US-Saudi nuclear deal?list 3 of 4Rally attendee steals the show by mimicking Trump’s gestureslist 4 of 4US attacks Iran for 13th night as Trump threatens ‘bigger’ strikesend of list“The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement on Thursday.“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.”The new tariffs will take effect just as the temporary 10 percent worldwide tariffs expire at 12:01am on Friday in Washington, DC (04:01 GMT). Trump had turned to the temporary levies after the Supreme Court struck down his biggest and boldest tariffs in February.Now he is tapping more durable tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits the president to impose import taxes and other sanctions against countries found to engage in “unjustifiable”, “unreasonable”, or “discriminatory” trade practices.Trump used Section 301 to impose big tariffs on China in his first term, and they survived court challenges.More Section 301 tariffs are likely coming: Greer’s office has launched a probe into whether 16 countries — accounting for 70 percent of US imports — have overproduced goods, pushing down prices and putting US companies at a disadvantage in global markets.