The United States has announced new import tariffs of 10 and 12.5 per cent on goods from more than 80 countries, including Nigeria, citing concerns over alleged forced labour in global supply chains. The new measures, which take effect on Friday July 24, replace the earlier 10 per cent global duty introduced by President Donald Trump after a Supreme Court ruling overturned the previous tariff framework.
According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the decision followed a five-month investigation into whether trading partners have laws and enforcement measures to prevent the import of goods produced through forced labour. The report stated that Nigeria and 53 other economies have not adequately prohibited or enforced restrictions on such imports, describing the situation as an unfair trade practice that burdens U.S. commerce.
The U.S. said its action is intended to strengthen efforts against forced labour, which it described as both a human rights concern and a distortion of fair international trade. While the tariffs will apply to a range of imported goods, oil, gas and fertiliser have been exempted from the new measures.
The U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, said the country has enforced a ban on forced labour imports for decades and urged trading partners to adopt similar standards. The U.S. also cited International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates showing that 27.6 million people worldwide were living in forced labour conditions as of 2021, with most cases occurring in the private sector.
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