Brussels says new US tariffs on forced labor are unjustified

New 10% US tariffs on the EU for alleged failures to tackle trade in products made with forced labor are “unjustified”, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said on Tuesday that, following the findings of an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act, 60 trading partners – including the EU – could face new tariffs.

“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable.” said USTR Jamieson Greer.

In a statement, European Commission spokesman Olof Gill said the EU “fully shares” US concerns about forced labor and has taken steps to eliminate it from global supply chains.

Gill noted that the EU ADOPTED a forced labor regulation in 2024, which bans the sale of products made using such practices and will come into force in 2027.

“This represents one of the most ambitious instruments of its kind globally. It puts a ban on placing on the EU market all products of forced labour, regardless of whether they originate in the EU or in a third country,” the spokesman said. “The EU considers tariffs imposed on these grounds to be unjustified,” he added.

Accusing the EU of not doing enough to combat forced labor is “absurd”. said German MEP Bernd LangeChairman of the European Parliament Committee on International Trade. “Washington is desperately looking for new legal bases to support its tariff policy,” he added.

The move from Washington comes just weeks before the current empty fee 10%. applied to most EU products expires. It was introduced to replace a 15% fee struck down by the Supreme Court in February, but it was only valid for 150 days.

Under an agreement between the EU and the US reached in Turnberry, Scotland, last year, the EU faces total tariffs of 15% on all goods, while tariffs on Washington’s agricultural and industrial exports are reduced.

The European Parliament is expected to give final approval for the implementation of the agreement on June 16, after a first vote on Tuesday.

“As we have said in the past, a deal is a deal … We expect the US to fully comply with the terms of the Joint Declaration and the Commission will continue to ensure that the interests of the European Union are fully protected,” Gill said.

Washington also has DESIGNATED changes in tariffs for steel and aluminum products, reducing them from 25% to 15%. The measures mainly cover agricultural machinery, as well as some heating and air conditioning systems.

Deputies have time insisted that tariffs on steel derivatives are kept at the agreed level of 15% as part of the Turnberry deal and the Commission is empowered to suspend the deal if the US continues to impose higher tariffs. The lower rate will apply from June 8 until the end of 2027.

European Steel Association director Axel Eggert said the Turnberry deal “means nothing for European steelmakers” until the US provides a solution to tariffs on steel and steel derivatives.

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