US imposes tariffs on Pakistan and more than 60 trading partners
The United States has introduced a new round of tariffs on imports from more than 60 trading partners, including Pakistan, as part of a broader effort to strengthen measures against goods allegedly linked to forced labour. The new duties officially came into effect on July 24 and are expected to affect trade between the United States and a large number of countries.
Under the latest policy, Pakistan has been placed in the group of countries whose exports to the United States will face a 10% tariff. The same tariff rate has also been imposed on imports from countries including India, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina, Cambodia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago.
Another group of 38 countries will face a 12.5% tariff on goods exported to the US under the same policy.
The US administration said the decision was taken because these countries had failed to effectively prevent the import or production of goods allegedly made through forced labour. According to American officials, stronger enforcement of labour laws and better monitoring of supply chains are needed to stop products made under forced labour conditions from entering international markets.
The new measures are part of President Donald Trump’s trade agenda, which focuses on using tariffs to address trade and labour-related concerns. The administration has introduced the tariffs under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, a legal provision that allows the United States to take trade action against countries it believes are engaging in unfair trade practices.
The latest action follows a major legal setback earlier this year. In February 2026, the US Supreme Court blocked the implementation of an earlier tariff package introduced by the Trump administration. That policy had proposed additional duties ranging from 10% to 50% on imports from several countries. Following the court’s decision, the administration adopted a different legal mechanism to introduce the current tariffs.
The decision has drawn criticism from several US trading partners. Australia and Brazil have described the new tariffs as unfair and said they will continue diplomatic efforts to have the measures withdrawn. Norway also rejected the allegations behind the tariffs, saying the decision was based on unsubstantiated claims.
Despite the broad scope of the new policy, several important products have been excluded. The tariffs do not apply to imports of crude oil, natural gas, selected agricultural commodities and fertilisers. Goods that are already subject to separate Section 232 national security tariffs, including steel, aluminium, automobiles and copper, are also exempt from the latest duties.