Washington, June 3, 2026 — The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed new tariffs on imports from 60 economies, including Pakistan, following findings that these countries have failed to adequately prevent trade in goods linked to forced labour.
According to the proposal, the U.S. plans to impose additional duties ranging from 10% to 12.5% on affected imports. Countries that have taken partial steps or commitments to restrict forced-labour goods may face a 10% tariff, while others with weaker enforcement systems could face 12.5% tariffs.
The USTR said the action follows a series of investigations under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act, concluding that the failure to enforce bans on forced-labour goods creates unfair competition for U.S. businesses and workers.
Pakistan is among the countries included in the list of those considered to have inadequate enforcement mechanisms, placing it in the category subject to the proposed 10% additional tariff.
The proposal is not final yet. It will go through a public consultation process, with written comments accepted until July 6 and a public hearing scheduled for July 7. A final decision will be made after reviewing feedback.
Officials in Washington say the move is aimed at strengthening global supply-chain accountability and discouraging forced labour practices. However, the proposal has already drawn criticism from several trading partners, who argue that they already have laws in place addressing the issue.
If implemented, the tariffs could affect trade flows in multiple sectors, especially export-heavy industries such as textiles, apparel, and manufacturing in countries like Pakistan.
The policy is still under review and may be modified before final approval.
