𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟱𝟯 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀
The United States Trade Representative has proposed new tariffs on India and 53 other economies. The proposal comes during three days of trade talks between US and Indian officials in New Delhi.
The USTR completed 60 investigations under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974. The office found 54 economies lack adequate measures to stop imports of goods made with forced labor. India is on this list.
The proposed tariff rates are:
- 10% for economies which ban forced labor imports or have committed to such measures
- 12.5% for economies not meeting these standards
The USTR also proposed a separate system for textiles and apparel. This system would let set amounts of imports from some economies enter the US at lower tariff rates.
The 54 economies include Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
Six additional economies failed to enforce bans on forced labor imports. These are Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan.
Section 301 gives the USTR authority to study foreign trade practices. If the office finds unfair or harmful practices, it has authority to raise tariffs or place other trade limits.