The BBC's Samira Hussain explains the impact of Trump's tariffs on the US The US has imposed new tariffs on 60 trading partners in the latest escalation in the trade war reignited by US President Donald Trump when he returned to office last year. Those targeted, including the UK, China and the European Union, will face a tariff of 10% to 12. 5% on all goods, accounting for almost all American imports.
The tariffs, which replace an identical levy which expires on Friday, are based on asserts key economic partners have failed to properly tackle forced labour. But US trade expert Caroline Freund stated the move is"Not about forced labour"But that Trump is simply"Looking for a legal reason to put the tariffs in". The US Supreme Court had ruled earlier this year that many of the tariffs imposed globally under emergency powers were illegally enacted.
The 10%-12. 5% duties on imports were proposed last month by the White House and over concerns they were not doing enough to tackle forced labour." Today's action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere,"US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated.
The new duties apply to the top 60 US trade partners covering 99. 4% of US imports, the Office of the US Trade Representative stated. The new tariffs were a"Like for like"Swap with the regime that expired on Friday, Freund, Dean of the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, informed the BBC's Today programme.
Faisal Islam: The UK's Trump trade deal no longer looks world-beating Questioned about the forced labour justification, she stated:"I think they were looking for a legal reason to put the tariffs in and that they can maintain them because their goals and Greer has been very clear about this, as has Trump, is about the trade deficit and it is about US manufacturing, it is not about forced labour." The levies are likely to raise costs for businesses and consumers, although its impact could be softened due to the number of exempted goods, stated the Asia Society Policy Institute's economic security expert Wendy Cutler. She added most trading partners would be disappointed with the new levies and were likely to focus on ways to "Reduce their dependence on the US" By making deals with other countries.
The head of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the UK had lost its comparative advantage against the European Union as a result of the new tariffs. William Bain told the BBC the EU has a 10% all-inclusive deal for tariffs on its goods, while the UK is facing 10% universal tariffs on top of any duties imposed on individual goods. "So there will be some concerns in the business community this morning about what the UK needs to do to get the same treatment the European Union has got here," Bain added.
David Henig, director of UK trade policy at the European Centre for International Political Economy, also noted the UK's relative disadvantage compared with the EU. He informed Today:"We have slightly moved backwards, but this is President Trump so anything could change tomorrow or the day after. "I don't think too many businesses will be changing their plans based on that."
Trump's so-called"Liberation Day"Tariffs were unveiled in April 2025, but struck down in February 2026 They were replaced by a temporary 10% levy on all global imports, which expired on Friday That has now been replaced by the new tariffs of 10% to 12. 5% on all goods from the countries targeted. Trading partners that have"Made commitments to adopt, and effectively enforce"Bans on forced labour imports will be subject to a 10% tariff, while those that have not will have the higher 12.
5% rate, the Office of the US Trade Representative stated. The UK government stated firms were facing no changes to the tariff rate they are facing." We take forced labour very seriously to ensure that in global supply chains UK businesses are not complicit,"A government spokesperson stated.
And UK whisky will not be affected by the new tariffs, after Trump struck a deal to exempt the tipple during King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the US. Other countries have criticised the announcement, with Brazil's government calling the new 12. 5% rate it is facing"Unjustified".
The Japanese government on Friday stated it regretted the new tariffs, while Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell stated the levies were"Completely unjustified". China has previously stated it opposed any form of unilateral tariff, and dismissed allegations of forced labour." There is no so-called forced labour in China, and we oppose using this as an excuse for political manipulation,"Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated.
But several international human rights groups have stated forced labour does exist in China, particularly among Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. Trump has long argued that tariffs protect American workers and lift the US economy. In April 2025, Trump imposed tariffs of up to 50% on global trading partners on what he called"Liberation Day", aiming to address what he saw as unfair treatment of the US.
In February, the US Supreme Court struck down those tariffs and stated the president had exceeded his authority, prompting tens of billions of dollars in refunds. But the White House has since looked at alternative ways to impose import duties, including a sweeping 10% levy as part of a temporary solution that expired on Friday. Washington has also imposed other tariffs on countries such as Brazil and Canada.
The US and China have also been embroiled in a tit-for-tat tariffs war, which is currently on hold. Trump has used tariffs to press countries, such as Mexico, on non-trade issues. The administration could be set to impose further tariffs as it is currently investigating 16 countries - accounting for the vast majority of US imports - over asserts of manufacturing overcapacity.