The White House has released the details of its latest tariffs, with goods from the UK, EU and elsewhere set to face an additional 10-12.5%.
The news comes as two major trading blocs, one of which includes the UK, look to agree an anti-tariff alliance. In customs developments, the UK’s new standard for customs intermediaries has been published.
New tariffs
The US has announced its latest plans for additional tariffs on imported goods, citing a failure by various nations to take action against trade using forced labour.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable. This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,” said US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer, citing a series of investigations under Section 301 of the US Trade Act 1974.
The USTR is now proposing additional 10-12.5% duties on most goods produced in dozens of countries, including the UK, Brazil, China, India, Israel, Japan, Angola and the EU as a whole.
The report cites the fact the EU’s forced labour prohibition doesn’t kick in until 14 December 2027, and that it lacks “some of the eight elements that independent research identified that inform whether a forced labor import prohibition will be effective”, while the USTR said that there was no evidence that Pakistan had taken any enforcement action against such practices.
The USTR said this “failure” to deal with the import of goods made with forced labour was subjecting “US producers to unfair competition from forced labor goods both in export markets and the US market.”
"Even though this was to be expected, the investigation and its findings are utterly absurd," Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade, said. He added:
"Following the setback at the Supreme Court, the US government is desperately seeking a new legal basis for its tariff policy. It appears that every conceivable pretext is now being used to justify existing tariffs or prepare new ones.”
This week the European Parliament had advanced its approval of the EU-US trade deal. EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič and Greer are due to meet in Paris later today on the margins of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development summit.
The US government’s findings will now be opened to a public consultation, with hearings set for 22 June.
Speaking to Global Trade Today, the Department for Business and Trade said it had been tackling forced labour in the UK and across global supply chains, and continued “to engage regularly with the [US] Administration as part of our negotiations, and have made clear the actions we're taking.”
The USTR’s report included a section acknowledging the UK’s efforts to tackle the issue of forced labour practices, with reference to multiple pieces of legislation – including the Modern Slavery Act 2025 and the Great British Energy Act 2025 – and the existing UK-US Economic Prosperity deal.
Anti-tariff alliance forming?
The news comes as two major trading blocs are considering a mutual anti-tariff.
Politico Morning Trade reported that the EU and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Trade (CPTPP) are considering an agreement not to raise tariffs on each other. Over 40 nations are represented across the two blocs.
New Zealand’s trade minister, Todd McClay, told Morning Trade that they were talking about “escalation”, with terms setting out that neither trade bloc can escalate tariff rates against the other.
McClay was in talks with UK trade secretary Peter Kyle earlier this week.
The UK joined CPTPP last year, while Costa Rica will become the 13th member of the group, after being granted accession in May.
New customs standard
The British Standards Institution has released a standard for customs intermediaries, following years of consultations and industry feedback.
The PAS 41201 was released today (3 June), and seeks to improve the quality of the service of customs intermediaries across the entire sector.
You can read Chartered Institute Customs Practice Director Anna Doherty’s full reaction to the standard here.
UK India deal advances
Kyle has been in India this week meeting his counterpart, Piyush Goyal, as both sides push for final completion of the trade deal.
DBT claims that the UK-India deal will cut tariffs on 99% of UK tariffs and 90% of Indian tariffs. The agreement was signed in 2025 but has yet to come into force.
The UK says it is “committed to delivering the certainty and stability that businesses need to grow in tough times”, adding that it aims to get a deal signed as soon as possible.
Indian media has reported positively on progress, with Goyal saying he had “great conversations” with Kyle around advancing the joint relationship during the latter’s visit to New Delhi.
A deal with India had been a goal of multiple administrations going back to the premiership of prime minister Boris Johnson. Sir Keir Starmer inked the initial agreement back in July 2025, with hopes that this would increase the £48bn trading relationship.
Other news
- The government’s consultation for the Single Trade Window closes today (3 June)
- The Liberal Democrats defence spokesperson, James MacCleary, has urged the government to outline its Defence Investment Plan, and cancel a contract to buy jets from the US for service in the British armed forces
- The Competition and Markets Authority has introduced new conduct requirements for Google search under the UK’s digital markets scheme
Yesterday in trade
- Treasury minister Lord Spencer Livermore became the first sitting minister to discuss reversing Brexit
- The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found that 60% of Chinese companies’ market share gains over the last two decades have been aided by state subsidies
- Norway is reconsidering joining the EU, according to the country’s foreign minister Espen Barth Eide
