The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed imposing tariffs of up to 12.5% on goods imported from India and 59 other countries due to their inadequate enforcement of prohibitions against forced labour. In a statement released on Tuesday, the USTR cited the failure of these economies to effectively ban imports of products made with forced labour, which it deemed as unreasonable and a burden on US commerce under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974. The list includes notable economies such as Australia, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom. USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer emphasized that the lack of action from key trading partners creates an unlevel playing field for American workers. Countries that have already implemented or pledged to implement bans on such imports may face an additional 10% tariff, while those without such measures could be subjected to a 12.5% duty. Furthermore, the USTR has initiated a public consultation process to gather feedback on these proposed tariffs, which also includes specific mechanisms for textile and apparel imports.