United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on goods from about 60 countries, including the United Kingdom, European Union member states, Canada, Japan, and Australia, over alleged concerns linked to forced labour practices.

The move marks the latest escalation in Trump’s renewed push to reshape US trade policy and pressure global partners on labour and economic standards.

In response, the European Union said it expects Washington to uphold the trade agreement reached last July, warning that any “hidden tariffs” would undermine the spirit of the deal.

The proposed measures follow earlier legal setbacks for Trump’s tariff policies. In February, the US Supreme Court ruled his “liberation day” tariffs illegal, while a subsequent decision by a US trade court also found similar measures unlawful, though they remain in effect pending appeal.

Despite those rulings, the administration has continued exploring alternative legal routes, with the new proposal grounded in Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended the move, arguing that the failure of major trading partners to address goods linked to forced labour creates unfair competition for American workers.

He said the US would no longer accept what he described as an uneven global playing field.

The European Commission said it shares concerns about forced labour but maintains that tariffs are not the appropriate response, reaffirming its commitment to the July trade agreement and expecting full US compliance.

According to analysts, Trump has long viewed tariffs as a key tool for economic security and is likely to continue seeking ways to bypass judicial limits on his trade agenda.

A 98-page US report on labour practices found that only a limited number of countries have fully implemented bans on imports tied to forced labour, while others were judged to have enforcement gaps.

The report suggested that countries including Canada, the EU, Mexico, Taiwan, and the UK could face 10% tariffs, while higher rates of 12.5% may apply to China, Japan, India, South Korea, Brazil, and Switzerland.

The proposed tariffs are not expected to take immediate effect and will undergo further review and public consultation before implementation.