US Proposes New Tariffs on Imports from 60 Countries, Including Bangladesh

The United States has proposed imposing additional tariffs on goods imported from 60 countries, including Bangladesh. The US administration alleges that these countries have failed to take effective measures to prevent the trade of products made with forced labor, a practice it says harms American businesses and workers. The development was reported by Reuters.

On Tuesday, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said that a Section 301 investigation had found evidence of such practices, prompting the proposal for new tariffs.

Under the proposal, imports from 15 countries, including Bangladesh, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Pakistan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Cambodia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Argentina, and Indonesia, would face an additional 10 percent tariff. Goods from the remaining 45 countries would be subject to a 12.5 percent tariff.

In a statement, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the failure of key trading partners to stop imports linked to forced labor is unacceptable and places American workers at a disadvantage in global markets.

The proposal comes after the US Supreme Court in February struck down tariffs imposed under emergency powers used by the Trump administration. The administration is now seeking to restructure tariff measures under a new legal framework.

However, the proposed tariffs would exempt energy products, critical minerals, certain metals, beef, coffee, selected fruits and vegetables, pharmaceuticals, biochemical products, and aircraft parts.

The proposal also includes a special provision for the apparel and textile sector, allowing a specified volume of imports to enter the US at lower tariff rates. Further details of the program have not yet been released.

The USTR said it will accept public comments on the proposal until July 6, with a public hearing scheduled for July 7.

The move could have implications for Bangladesh’s ready-made garment exports to the United States, although the final decision and any potential exemptions remain unclear.