In a world still grappling with the moral weight of forced labour — a condition endured by tens of millions — the United States is reshaping its trade architecture around an old legal instrument newly repurposed. President Trump, having lost his broader tariff authority at the Supreme Court, is now imposing 10 to 12.5 percent levies on 60 nations under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, citing their failure to police goods made through coercion. The move is simultaneously a legal retreat and a strategic advance, trading sweeping emergency powers for a narrower but more durable foundation — one
Trump pivots to forced-labour tariffs as Supreme Court ruling forces tariff reset
Approximately 27.6 million people were in forced labour globally in 2021; tariffs aim to reduce demand for forced-labour-produced goods but effectiveness depends on enforcement mechanisms.