Trump forced‑labour tariff push

In late July 2026, the U.S. administration announced a new legal basis for reinstating tariffs after the Supreme Court invalidated earlier emergency measures. Citing statutes such as Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and a forced‑labour rationale, the policy targeted roughly 60 countries with duties of about 5%, aiming to create a more durable tariff framework without fresh congressional approval.

A week later, officials detailed a second round of tariffs framed around combating forced labour abroad, naming China among the targeted economies. Critics highlighted the pretextual nature of the justification, pointing to the United States’ own reliance on prison labour and questioning compliance with international trade rules and domestic law. The measures were linked to earlier 150‑day temporary tariffs still under appeal, and analysts warned of heightened tensions in U.S.–China trade relations and potential retaliatory actions.

Together, the snapshots trace the administration’s shift from seeking alternative statutory authority to defending the forced‑labour narrative amid growing legal and diplomatic scrutiny.