The United States has proposed new tariffs on 60 countries, including Bangladesh, over concerns about trade in goods produced using forced labor. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said its investigation found that the countries concerned had failed to take appropriate steps to control trade in goods produced using forced labor.
According to the proposal, an additional 10 percent tariff has been imposed on products imported from Bangladesh, Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Argentina, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. On the other hand, an additional 12.5 percent tariff has been proposed on products from 45 other countries included in the investigation.
USTR Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the failure of key U.S. trading partners to stop imports of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable, and that is why we are taking steps to further tighten our trade regime.
Meanwhile, the United States has proposed a new textile and apparel policy, under which a certain amount of clothing and textile products can enter the United States at reduced tariffs. However, the tariff rate and product range have not yet been disclosed. The current temporary 10 percent tariff is scheduled to expire on July 24.