Australian PM Rejects Trump’s 12.5 Percent Tariff Against Forced Labour-Made Goods Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the federal opposition have rejected new 12.5 percent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. These duties were a result of the U.S. Trade Representative’s investigation into countries allegedly failing to enforce bans on goods made with forced labour. Australia was subjected to the higher tariff rate due to its lack of a forced labour import ban.

• Australia’s Prime Minister and opposition reject new 12.5 percent tariffs from the Trump administration.
• The tariffs target countries that allegedly fail to enforce bans on goods made with forced labour.
• The U.S. Trade Representative determined Australia lacked a forced labour import ban, leading to the 12.5% tariff.
• Countries with existing or committed bans face a lower 10 percent rate.
• Chinese producers are frequently accused of using forced labour.