China and EU Slam Proposed US Tariffs on 60 Economies Over Forced Labour
On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, including China and the EU, after a forced labour investigation found they had failed to adequately prohibit goo... China's Foreign Ministry characterized the US findings as a 'pretext' and a form of protectionis...
Published byEdited with DeepSeek-V4-ProImages generated with GPT Image 1.5
On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, including China and the EU, after a forced labour investigation found they had failed to adequately prohibit goo...
China's Foreign Ministry characterized the US findings as a 'pretext' and a form of protectionism, firmly denying any forced labour in its production sectors and stating that 'tariff wars and trade wars are not in the...
The EU dismissed the proposal as 'unjustified' and 'utterly absurd,' citing its own stringent forced labour rules.
What were the key reactions from China and the EU to the proposed US tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from China and 59 other economies, baThe US proposal targets imports from 60 economies, including China and the EU, over claims tied to forced labour in supply chains.
AI Prompt
Create a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: What were the key reactions from China and the EU to the proposed US tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from China and 59 other economies, ba. Article summary: On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed additional tariffs of **10% or 12.5%** on imports from 60 economies — including China — after concluding under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 that those countries . Topic tags: general, government, general web, user generated. Reference image context from search candidates: Reference image 1: visual subject "# SpotlightLIVE: The Trump administration has proposed fresh tariffs on India and 59 other economies, citing concerns over the enforcement of rules against goods linked to forced l" source context "2K views · 26 reactions | SpotlightLIVE: The Trump administration has proposed fresh tariffs on India an
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On June 2, 2026, a new transatlantic and transpacific trade dispute erupted after the US proposed fresh tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners over their alleged failure to combat forced labour. The proposal, which would add levies of 10% or 12.5% on all imports from the targeted economies, immediately drew fierce condemnation from both China and the European Union, who denied the underlying allegations and signaled they were prepared to retaliate.
Context and Rationale Behind the US Action
The proposed tariffs stem from a sweeping set of investigations launched in March 2026 by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 . The USTR examined whether 60 economies had failed to adequately prohibit the importation of goods made with forced labour, a failure they argued was "unreasonable" and placed a burden on US commerce .
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What is the short answer to "China and EU Slam Proposed US Tariffs on 60 Economies Over Forced Labour"?
On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, including China and the EU, after a forced labour investigation found they had failed to adequately prohibit goo...
What are the key points to validate first?
On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, including China and the EU, after a forced labour investigation found they had failed to adequately prohibit goo... China's Foreign Ministry characterized the US findings as a 'pretext' and a form of protectionism, firmly denying any forced labour in its production sectors and stating that 'tariff wars and trade wars are not in the...
What should I do next in practice?
The EU dismissed the proposal as 'unjustified' and 'utterly absurd,' citing its own stringent forced labour rules.
China and EU Slam Proposed US Tariffs on 60 Economies Over Forced Labour
On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, including China and the EU, after a forced labour investigation found they had failed to adequately prohibit goo... China's Foreign Ministry characterized the US findings as a 'pretext' and a form of protectionis...
Published byEdited with DeepSeek-V4-ProImages generated with GPT Image 1.5
On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, including China and the EU, after a forced labour investigation found they had failed to adequately prohibit goo...
China's Foreign Ministry characterized the US findings as a 'pretext' and a form of protectionism, firmly denying any forced labour in its production sectors and stating that 'tariff wars and trade wars are not in the...
The EU dismissed the proposal as 'unjustified' and 'utterly absurd,' citing its own stringent forced labour rules.
What were the key reactions from China and the EU to the proposed US tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from China and 59 other economies, baThe US proposal targets imports from 60 economies, including China and the EU, over claims tied to forced labour in supply chains.
AI Prompt
Create a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: What were the key reactions from China and the EU to the proposed US tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from China and 59 other economies, ba. Article summary: On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed additional tariffs of **10% or 12.5%** on imports from 60 economies — including China — after concluding under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 that those countries . Topic tags: general, government, general web, user generated. Reference image context from search candidates: Reference image 1: visual subject "# SpotlightLIVE: The Trump administration has proposed fresh tariffs on India and 59 other economies, citing concerns over the enforcement of rules against goods linked to forced l" source context "2K views · 26 reactions | SpotlightLIVE: The Trump administration has proposed fresh tariffs on India an
openai.com
On June 2, 2026, a new transatlantic and transpacific trade dispute erupted after the US proposed fresh tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners over their alleged failure to combat forced labour. The proposal, which would add levies of 10% or 12.5% on all imports from the targeted economies, immediately drew fierce condemnation from both China and the European Union, who denied the underlying allegations and signaled they were prepared to retaliate.
Context and Rationale Behind the US Action
The proposed tariffs stem from a sweeping set of investigations launched in March 2026 by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 . The USTR examined whether 60 economies had failed to adequately prohibit the importation of goods made with forced labour, a failure they argued was "unreasonable" and placed a burden on US commerce .
Studio Global AI
Continue your research
This page includes a source-backed answer you can continue inside Studio Global.
What is the short answer to "China and EU Slam Proposed US Tariffs on 60 Economies Over Forced Labour"?
On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, including China and the EU, after a forced labour investigation found they had failed to adequately prohibit goo...
What are the key points to validate first?
On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, including China and the EU, after a forced labour investigation found they had failed to adequately prohibit goo... China's Foreign Ministry characterized the US findings as a 'pretext' and a form of protectionism, firmly denying any forced labour in its production sectors and stating that 'tariff wars and trade wars are not in the...
What should I do next in practice?
The EU dismissed the proposal as 'unjustified' and 'utterly absurd,' citing its own stringent forced labour rules.
By June, the USTR concluded that all 60 investigated economies had shortcomings, but it established a two-tiered system of proposed punitive duties based on the severity of the findings .
10% Tariff for 16 Economies: This group includes the EU, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. These economies were judged to have some form of partial prohibition or had made relevant commitments via trade agreements but had failed to effectively enforce them .
12.5% Tariff for 44 Economies: This tier targets nations the US judged to have no or insufficient prohibitions. The list includes major economies like China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and Australia .
In a statement, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer framed the action as a measure to protect American workers. "The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable. This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field," he said . Analysts saw the move as part of a broader Trump administration effort to reinforce its tariff walls and gain new trade leverage .
China: Rejection and Rebuke
China's response was swift and unequivocal, rejecting the legal basis and factual claims of the US proposal. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning dismissed the findings as a "pretext" for protectionism and denied the existence of forced labour in the country's production sectors .
"There is no so-called forced labour in China, and we oppose using this as an excuse for political manipulation," Mao stated, characterizing the tariffs as a unilateral action that China firmly opposes .
Beyond the denial, Beijing issued a clear warning about the consequences of escalating trade tensions. "Tariff wars and trade wars are not in the interest of any party," Mao said, adding that China would take necessary measures to protect its own rights and interests . This language leaves the door open for potential Chinese retaliatory tariffs or other trade barriers.
EU: A Call to Honor Existing Deals
The European Union also reacted sharply, with officials expressing a mixture of disbelief and frustration. The Chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, Bernd Lange, described the US findings as "utterly absurd," arguing that the EU has already adopted some of the strictest rules in the world targeting products made with forced labour .
European Commission trade spokesperson Olof Gill formally labeled the proposed tariffs as "unjustified" . Crucially, the EU tied its objection to a recently concluded trade deal with the US, stating that it expects Washington to "fully respect the terms of the trade deal."
Gill warned that any additional tariffs imposed on top of the agreed rates would be "unacceptable" . Echoing the firm stance taken earlier in March, the Commission signaled it was prepared to act, having previously stated it would "respond firmly and proportionately to any violation of the EU-US joint declaration" .
What Happens Next
It is important to note that these tariffs remain a proposal and are not yet in effect. The USTR has initiated a public comment period, with written submissions due by July 6, 2026, and related hearings scheduled to begin the following day on July 7 . This window allows affected countries, businesses, and other interested parties to contest the findings and potential retaliation before any final duties are imposed. The final tariff rates, scope, and implementation date could all change based on this consultative process.
By June, the USTR concluded that all 60 investigated economies had shortcomings, but it established a two-tiered system of proposed punitive duties based on the severity of the findings .
10% Tariff for 16 Economies: This group includes the EU, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. These economies were judged to have some form of partial prohibition or had made relevant commitments via trade agreements but had failed to effectively enforce them .
12.5% Tariff for 44 Economies: This tier targets nations the US judged to have no or insufficient prohibitions. The list includes major economies like China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and Australia .
In a statement, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer framed the action as a measure to protect American workers. "The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable. This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field," he said . Analysts saw the move as part of a broader Trump administration effort to reinforce its tariff walls and gain new trade leverage .
China: Rejection and Rebuke
China's response was swift and unequivocal, rejecting the legal basis and factual claims of the US proposal. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning dismissed the findings as a "pretext" for protectionism and denied the existence of forced labour in the country's production sectors .
"There is no so-called forced labour in China, and we oppose using this as an excuse for political manipulation," Mao stated, characterizing the tariffs as a unilateral action that China firmly opposes .
Beyond the denial, Beijing issued a clear warning about the consequences of escalating trade tensions. "Tariff wars and trade wars are not in the interest of any party," Mao said, adding that China would take necessary measures to protect its own rights and interests . This language leaves the door open for potential Chinese retaliatory tariffs or other trade barriers.
EU: A Call to Honor Existing Deals
The European Union also reacted sharply, with officials expressing a mixture of disbelief and frustration. The Chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, Bernd Lange, described the US findings as "utterly absurd," arguing that the EU has already adopted some of the strictest rules in the world targeting products made with forced labour .
European Commission trade spokesperson Olof Gill formally labeled the proposed tariffs as "unjustified" . Crucially, the EU tied its objection to a recently concluded trade deal with the US, stating that it expects Washington to "fully respect the terms of the trade deal."
Gill warned that any additional tariffs imposed on top of the agreed rates would be "unacceptable" . Echoing the firm stance taken earlier in March, the Commission signaled it was prepared to act, having previously stated it would "respond firmly and proportionately to any violation of the EU-US joint declaration" .
What Happens Next
It is important to note that these tariffs remain a proposal and are not yet in effect. The USTR has initiated a public comment period, with written submissions due by July 6, 2026, and related hearings scheduled to begin the following day on July 7 . This window allows affected countries, businesses, and other interested parties to contest the findings and potential retaliation before any final duties are imposed. The final tariff rates, scope, and implementation date could all change based on this consultative process.
