The U.S. is proposing new tariffs on goods from 60 economies: why this matters for Ukraine
3 June 12:31
The U.S. has proposed new additional tariffs on imports from 60 economies as part of its Section 301 investigations. These are countries and economies that, according to Washington, have not implemented or enforced adequate bans on imports of goods produced using forced labor. This was announced by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The list includes Canada, the European Union, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, China, Australia, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, the UAE, and other major U.S. trading partners. Ukraine is not on this list, as indicated by the USTR’s published list of 60 economies.
What exactly is the U.S. proposing?
The USTR proposes imposing additional tariffs on all goods from the investigated economies, with the exception of items that will be specifically identified in an annex to the notice in the Federal Register. For some economies, the proposed rate is 10%; for the rest, 12.5%. The U.S. side is also proposing a separate textile mechanism for certain imports of clothing and textiles.
According to Reuters, a 10% tariff is proposed, in particular, for Canada, the EU, Mexico, Pakistan, the UK, Taiwan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, and a 12.5% tariff for the remaining economies on the list.
Why the U.S. is imposing new tariffs
U.S. authorities explain this by noting that a number of countries do not prohibit or effectively block the import of goods produced using forced labor. The USTR believes that such practices create unfair competition for American manufacturers and distort global trade.
The USTR stated that failing to take action against goods produced by forced labor is “unacceptable,” and that American workers are forced to compete on unequal terms as a result.
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Which countries made the list
The USTR separately listed 54 economies that, in the U.S. view, have not implemented or enforced such a ban, as well as six additional economies that have not ensured effective enforcement of the ban. These include Canada, the EU, Mexico, Pakistan, China, Japan, India, the UK, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others.
The official list published by the USTR does not include Ukraine. Therefore, it can be said that Ukrainian exports are not subject to this new tariff proposal.
Given that many of the U.S.’s major trading partners are included on the list, this appears to be a positive sign for Ukrainian exporters.
This is particularly important given that the new tariffs could affect goods from countries that compete with Ukraine in certain foreign markets. At the same time, this is currently just a proposal, not a tariff regime that has already been definitively implemented.
When a final decision may be made
The USTR has already opened a public comment period. Requests to participate in the hearings must be submitted by June 22, 2026; written comments will be accepted until July 6, 2026; and the hearings on the proposed tariffs are scheduled for July 7, 2026.
This means the final form of these tariffs may still change following the public comment period.
What this means for global trade
The new tariff package indicates that the U.S. is continuing to take a tougher trade stance toward major partners and is using the Section 301 mechanism to exert pressure on labor standards and supply chains. Reuters calls this part of a broader strategy by Washington to revise its tariff policy following court rulings on previous tariffs.
For global trade, this could mean a new wave of tension, especially given that both U.S. allies and the world’s largest economies have made the list
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