The tariffs target 60 trading partners over claims they failed to properly stop forced labour.

The US has imposed new tariffs on 60 trading partners, accounting for the vast majority of its imports, over claims they failed to properly stop forced labour. The duties, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, target key economic partners – including the UK, China, the European Union, Canada, Japan and India. They came into effect on Friday, as a temporary 10% tax on foreign goods introduced earlier this year expired. The move is the latest escalation in the global trade war reignited by US President Donald Trump when he returned to office last year. The US Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that many of the tariffs imposed globally under emergency powers were illegally enacted. Last month, the White House proposed 10%-12.5% duties on imports from dozens of countries over concerns they were not doing enough to tackle forced labour. On Thursday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, acting under Trump's direction, said those duties would now take effect. "Today's action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere," his statement said. Greer invoked Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which governs US trade enforcement of practices that burden or restrict American commerce.