US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer testifies before the Senate Finance Committee at the US Capitol in Washington on Wednesday about the Trump administration's 2026 trade policy agenda. [AP]
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer testifies before the Senate Finance Committee at the US Capitol in Washington on Wednesday about the Trump administration's 2026 trade policy agenda. [AP]

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Wednesday that the administration could finalize "forced labor tariffs" targeting imports of goods produced with forced labor as soon as Friday.

Appearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Greer said in written opening remarks that "as early as July 24 (Friday), USTR will announce final actions against 60 trading partners for their failure to address goods made with forced labor."

"The United States is the only country in the world that has adopted and effectively enforces these regulations," Greer said, adding that the probe "is the culmination of years of effort to ensure our trading partners join us in this effort and create a level playing field for American workers and businesses."

Greer said the Trump administration's tariff policy had been successful and argued that a national trade emergency remains ongoing. "The specific authorities this administration uses have changed, but the trade strategy has not," he said. "We will continue to use tariffs."

The Trump administration introduced a 10 percent global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act after the Supreme Court ruled in February that the reciprocal tariffs imposed on individual countries were unlawful. The global tariff, which can be imposed for a maximum of 150 days, expires Friday.

To replace it, the Trump administration has been conducting investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act to impose tariffs in two areas: structural overproduction and forced labor.

South Korea is under investigation in both areas. In the forced labor category, tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent have been announced for 60 countries and await only a final confirmation, while no tariff announcement has yet been made in the overproduction category.

The key question is whether Section 301 tariffs on South Korea will be held to the 15 percent ceiling set under the bilateral trade agreement. Greer said last month that the administration would respect the tariff cap established under that deal.

The Trump administration also imposed an additional 50 percent tariff on Canada on Monday under the Tariff Act of 1930. Concerns have been raised that the same legal provision could be used to impose tariffs on other countries as well.


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