United States forced‑labor tariff probe prompts Guyana’s trade defense

The United States announced proposed additional duties of 10% to 12.5% on imports from about 60 countries, including the EU, the United Kingdom and China, after accusing them of failing to block goods made with forced labor. The tariffs, part of a Section 301 investigation, could rise to 12.5% for economies that do not have a prohibitive regime, affecting products such as agricultural goods.

A recent academic study of roughly 100 million maritime shipment records found that one in four shipments now have redacted identities, a share that has risen as scrutiny intensifies. Redactions are more common for shipments from high‑risk countries and increased after heightened public focus on forced‑labor risks in cotton and apparel supply chains.

Guyana’s foreign secretary, Robert Persaud, said the country will appear at a USTR public hearing on July 7 to demonstrate its efforts to prevent forced‑labour imports and avoid the new tariff. He warned that the measure could limit new export categories, especially agricultural products, although petroleum and bauxite remain exempt. The United States is one of Guyana’s biggest trading partners, and the outcome will shape future trade dialogue.