Thailand could face an additional 12.5% tariff on exports to the United States under a new proposal from the administration of US President Donald Trump, which targets imports from 60 countries over concerns about forced labour in global supply chains.
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The proposal, announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), would impose extra import duties of either 10% or 12.5% depending on whether countries have effective measures in place to prevent the import of goods produced using forced labour. Thailand is among 45 countries identified for the higher 12.5% rate, potentially increasing costs for Thai exporters selling goods to the US market.
The measure is the latest outcome of a Section 301 unfair trade investigation and comes as the Trump administration seeks to restore emergency tariff measures that were struck down by the US Supreme Court in February. The proposed tariffs are intended to address what US officials describe as an unfair competitive advantage gained through the use of forced labour in international supply chains.
According to the USTR, a lower 10% tariff would apply to imports from countries and regions including Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. The agency said these jurisdictions either prohibit imports made with forced labour, have relevant commitments under trade agreements, or have implemented measures aimed at preventing such imports.
For the remaining 45 countries, including Thailand, the USTR said existing laws and enforcement mechanisms do not effectively prohibit imports linked to forced labour. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated: “The failure of some of our most important trading partners to address imports made with forced labour is unacceptable.”
Greer added: “This creates a dynamic in which American workers are forced to compete globally on an uneven playing field.” The USTR is also proposing separate textile measures that would allow specified quantities of clothing and textile products to enter the US at reduced tariff rates, although no rates or volume limits have yet been disclosed.
The announcement comes ahead of 24 July, when a temporary 10% tariff introduced by the Trump administration on 20 February is due to expire. That same day, the US Supreme Court overturned tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Manager Online reported that the USTR will accept comments on the proposed tariffs and other remedies until 6 July, with hearings scheduled for 7 July. The agency has also exempted several categories from the proposed duties, including energy products, rare earth minerals and certain metals, beef, coffee, selected fruits and vegetables, pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals and aircraft parts.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now MGRonline 4 June 2026
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