US Businesses Challenge Trump’s New Tariffs on Forced Labor Grounds

On Friday, two small US businesses challenged the Trump administration in a legal battle over new tariffs targeting forced labor practices. The tariffs, ranging between 10% and 12.5%, affect imports from 60 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. These measures immediately replaced a temporary 10% global surcharge that expired. The lawsuit was filed in the US Court of International Trade and argues that the administration failed to demonstrate how each country’s forced labor policies burden US commerce or how tariffs would change these practices. Represented by Liberty Justice Center, a libertarian public-interest law firm that previously challenged Trump’s similar tariffs, the companies are contesting the legality of using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 for this purpose. International trade law sets clear limits on tariff applications, regardless of humanitarian or policy justifications. This case highlights the complexity and importance of balancing global labor rights defense with adherence to national trade laws, especially in an increasingly protectionist global economic environment. Source original: Politico EU