Trump could slap Australia with 12.5% tariff for allegedly importing goods made by slave labour

Australia is among dozens of countries facing a 12.5% trade tariff from the Trump administration for allegedly failing to prevent imports of goods made by slave labour. The US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, listed Australia among 54 economies that “failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor” following an investigation into their practices. A further six countries that were found to have failed to properly police a prohibition face a lower 10% rate. “The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable,” Greer said. “This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field. We will no longer tolerate this disparity.” A report summarising the “findings of investigation” into each of the countries – including Australia – contained no specific details. “For the foregoing reasons, the results of this investigation indicate that the acts, policies and practices of Australia related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition are unreasonable and burden or restrict U.S. commerce,” the report stated. The federal government was on Wednesday night seeking urgent clarification from US officials about the proposed new trade sanction. A spokesperson for the trade minister, Don Farrell, disputed the alleged findings. …