Trump tariffs: US trade chief Greer signals 'action soon' against 60 economies over forced labour

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has signalled that the Trump administration will soon unveil new trade action targeting 60 economies, including India, over their alleged failure to prevent trade in goods produced using forced labour.

“We expect to see some action soon,” Greer told CNBC in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, July 21.

However, he declined to give a timeline, saying, “I have responsibility to brief Congress and other stakeholders before I really reveal that kind of thing.”
The warning comes as US President Donald Trump’s temporary 10% global tariff is set to expire on July 24. Washington has proposed an additional tariff of 12.5% on imports from India under the forced-labour investigation, although a final decision has not yet been announced.
Greer said the probe covered “60 countries, six-zero, and about 99% of our trade,” underlining the potential reach of the measures.

“The United States has had on the books this law where we prohibit the import of goods made in or in part with forced labor, and we enforce it rigorously,” he said. “Other countries, most don’t have it. Those that do don’t enforce it.”

The action is being pursued under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, which allows Washington to investigate and respond to trade practices it considers unfair or discriminatory.

The US Trade Representative’s office has proposed a 10% additional tariff on economies that have adopted or committed to enforcing restrictions on forced-labour goods. A higher 12.5% levy has been proposed for the remaining economies, including India.

The tariff threat adds another complication to India-US trade negotiations. The two countries have so far failed to finalise an interim agreement, with New Delhi seeking a tariff advantage over competitors such as China and assurances that Washington will not impose fresh levies after a deal.

Most Indian goods currently entering the US face the temporary 10% tariff. India has maintained that it will not rush into an agreement that compromises its interests, particularly its red lines concerning agriculture.