US Steel and Shrimp Industry Back Forced
Labour Tariff
·
The
Trump Administration
has imposed Section 301 tariffs
on 60 trading partners for failing to adopt and effectively enforce
import bans on goods made with forced
labour.
·
The
action was taken by U.S. Trade
Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974,
at the direction of President Donald Trump.
·
The
U.S. stated that it has prohibited imports made with forced labour
for nearly 100 years
and expects trading partners to follow similar standards.
·
The
tariffs aim to:
o
Combat
forced labour in global supply chains.
o
Promote
stronger labour rights enforcement globally.
o
Create
a level playing field for American workers and businesses.
o
Encourage
countries to adopt and enforce forced labour import bans.
·
The
Administration said the measure supports its broader "America First" trade policy
and strengthens domestic manufacturing and critical supply chains.
·
The
announcement received support from major U.S. industry groups, including:
o
United
Steelworkers (USW)
o
American
Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)
o
Steel
Manufacturers Association (SMA)
o
Nucor
Corporation
o
Southern
Shrimp Alliance
o
USA
Rice
o
American
Seed Trade Association (ASTA)
o
Consumer
Brands Association
o
Coalition
for a Prosperous America
o
American
Council for Capital Formation (ACCF)
·
Industry
leaders stated that the tariffs will:
o
Reduce
unfair competition from products made with forced labour.
o
Protect
American manufacturing, agriculture, and steel industries.
o
Encourage
investment and job creation in the United States.
o
Strengthen
compliance with labour and human rights standards.
·
The
Southern Shrimp Alliance
noted that India's adoption
of a ban on imports of goods produced through forced labour
demonstrated that market access can encourage improvements in labour standards abroad.
·
U.S.
lawmakers, including House
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, also supported the
move, saying it protects American workers, farmers, small businesses, and promotes
fair trade.
[ABS News Service/25.07.2026]
On 23 July, 2026, at the direction of
President Trump, Ambassador Jamieson Greer took final action under Section 301 of
the Trade Act of 1974 by imposing tariffs on 60 trading partners for their failure
to adopt and effectively enforce import bans on goods made with forced labor. America
has prohibited the import of goods made with forced labor for almost 100 years,
and we expect our trading partners to rise to that standard. President Trump, across
both of his administrations, has spearheaded a whole-of-government approach to eradicate
forced labor in global supply chains to create a more level playing field for American
workers. Yesterday’s action encourages stronger labor rights enforcement abroad,
restores fairness in the global market for American workers, and incentives our
trading partners to join the United States to adopt and enforce forced labor import
bans.
The announcement quickly drew praise
from American steelworkers, manufacturers, farmers, industry leaders, and members
of Congress:
United Steelworkers International
President Roxanne Brown:
Our union welcomes the administration’s efforts to use our nation’s trade policies
to curtail forced labor and other abusive trade practices. Strong enforcement against
forced labor protects workers abroad while helping ensure that American manufacturers
and workers compete on a level playing field. Workers abroad should never face coercion,
exploitation, or the denial of fundamental human rights, and workers at home should
never be forced to compete against products made through these abusive practices.
American Iron and Steel
Institute President and CEO Kevin Dempsey:
We welcome efforts by the administration to address unfair trade practices that
distort trade and harm American workers… Enforcing laws against trade in goods made
with forced labor practices will help ensure that American industries and their
workers can truly compete on a level playing field.
Steel Manufacturers Association
Executive Vice President Brandon Farris:
SMA applauds President Trump’s unwavering commitment to revitalizing America’s steel
industry. America should never outsource its industrial might or ask our workers
to compete against forced labor and unfair trade... The Administration is sending
a clear message: the United States is prioritizing American manufacturing and our
critical supply chains, which will drive investment and create American jobs.
Nucor Corporation Chair
and CEO Leon Topalian: Nucor has long supported
strong trade enforcement to level the playing field for American manufacturers in
the face of global overcapacity and unfair trade. USTR’s final actions in these
investigations target areas where American manufacturers have been harmed while
preserving critical supply chains, helping to strengthen domestic manufacturing
and encourage continued investment in American steelmaking and the jobs we support
across the United States.
Southern Shrimp Alliance
Executive Director Blake Price:
The American shrimp industry is thankful for President Trump’s and Ambassador Greer’s
commitment to combatting unfair trade practices in all of its forms. With India’s
adoption of a prohibition on the importation of goods produced through forced labor,
the Section 301 action on forced labor has already proven that access to our market
can be leveraged to improve conditions overseas.
Chair of USA Rice and
CEO of Producers Rice Mill Keith Glover:
We are grateful that President Trump and Ambassador Greer continue to stand their
ground through creative, lasting, legal solutions to maintain leverage over our
competitors with the imposition of this new round of Section 301 tariffs on imported
goods as a result of forced labor concerns. Many of rice’s global bad actors when
it comes to subsidies also happen to be weak on their forced labor standards.
American Seed Trade Association
President and CEO Andy LaVigne:
We extend our appreciation to the Administration for acknowledging the vital role
that trade plays in delivering seed innovation to U.S. farmers… The U.S. seed sector
remains a committed partner in combating forced labor, and in supporting the innovation
pipeline that empowers American farmers to lead the world in agricultural exports.
Consumer Brands Association
President and CEO Melissa Hockstad:
Consumer Brands commends the Trump administration's efforts to ensure the final
recommendations of its Section 301 investigation on forced labor imports protect
U.S. manufacturers… USTR has again demonstrated the ability to compel change and
address unfair trade practices without impacting the affordability and availability
of everyday consumer products made right here in the U.S.
Coalition for a Prosperous
America Chairman Zach Mottl:
Blanket zero-for-zero tariff deals with countries that have lower labor standards
never made sense. This administration has done more than any other to reverse that
race to the bottom, first through repealing the de minimis loophole and now through
this new tariff action highlighting countries’ varying commitment to labor rights.
American Council for
Capital Formation President and CEO George David Banks:
American workers should not compete against goods produced through modern slavery.
The United States has long barred such imports; our trading partners must do the
same. This failure distorts markets and burdens U.S. commerce. Today’s calibrated tariffs, at President Trump’s
direction, create clear incentives for advancing international human rights reform
that are consistent with America First trade policy.
House Ways and Means
Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08):
True to its word, the Trump Administration is fighting for American families, farmers
and small businesses – as well as American values – when it comes to our trading
relationships. Holding accountable those countries that are not doing nearly enough
to rid their supply chains of goods produced with forced labor is appropriate to
address unfair trading practices that put American workers at a competitive disadvantage.