The United States has proposed imposing additional tariffs on goods from 60 countries around the world, including Bangladesh. The U.S. administration alleges that these countries have failed to take effective steps to curb trade in goods made with forced labor, which it says harms American commerce and workers. Reuters reports.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative said on Tuesday that the new tariffs were proposed after its Section 301 investigation found evidence of such irregularities.
Under the proposal, an additional 10 percent tariff would be imposed on goods from 15 countries, including Bangladesh, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Pakistan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Cambodia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Argentina and Indonesia. For the remaining 45 countries, the tariff rate would be 12.5 percent.
In a statement, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the failure of important trading partners to halt imports of goods made with forced labor was unacceptable. As a result, he said, American workers were facing unfair competition in the global market. The proposal calls for exemptions for fuel, rare minerals, certain metals, beef, coffee, specific fruits and vegetables, medicines, organic chemicals and aircraft parts.
A special arrangement has also been proposed for the apparel and textile sector, under which a set quantity of imports could enter the United States at a lower tariff. Details on this have not yet been released.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative said public comments on the proposed tariffs would be accepted until July 6, and a public hearing would be held on July 7.
The U.S. move could have a potential impact on Bangladesh’s ready-made garment exports.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report