US Trade Court Hears Challenge to Trump’s Forced-Labor Tariffs

The US Court of International Trade on Wednesday is set to hear a challenge to President Donald Trump’s tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners accused of failing to prevent imports made with forced labor. Four small businesses and 25 Democratic-led states argue that the tariffs, which affect goods from countries including China and members of the European Union, exceed presidential authority.

The case comes months after the US Supreme Court struck down most of Trump’s broadest tariffs, ruling that emergency economic powers could not be used to impose sweeping duties on US trading partners. Trump subsequently introduced a temporary 10% global tariff under a different law before imposing the new forced-labor tariffs in late July. The duties range from 10% to 12.5% and cover more than 99% of goods imported into the United States.

Three lawsuits consolidated before the trade court argue that the administration was required to make country-specific findings of unfair trade practices before imposing the tariffs. The Trump administration maintains that it conducted investigations into 60 trading partners and determined that tariffs were warranted over their failure to prevent imports produced using forced labor. A three-judge panel appointed by Trump, Barack Obama and Joe Biden is hearing the case and is expected to issue a written ruling after Wednesday’s proceedings.

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