The United States has imposed new tariffs on 60 trading partners, including Pakistan, India, China, and the European Union, over concerns regarding forced labor practices.The tariffs, effective from Friday, range between 10% and 12.5%, replacing an expiring global duty introduced earlier this year by former President Donald Trump.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer emphasized that the US has enforced its forced labor import ban for nearly a century and urged trading partners to adopt similar measures.

The Trump administration's move comes after the Supreme Court struck down several of Trump's previous tariffs, prompting the use of alternative authorities to reimpose levies.The new tariffs target specific countries like Argentina, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, with combined rates of 10% or 12.5% for the European Union, Japan, and South Korea.Countries such as China face a 12.5% rate.The measures have faced immediate criticism from affected nations, with Japan and Australia condemning the tariffs as unjustified.Exemptions apply to certain sectors like steel, aluminum, and energy products.Islamabad had previously submitted detailed responses to the US Trade Representative (USTR) regarding the forced labor investigations.

The administration's strategy aims to strengthen leverage over trading partners and withstand potential legal challenges, signaling a more protectionist approach under Trump's leadership.