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WASHINGTON, United States — US trade envoy Jamieson Greer said Tuesday that there would be "action soon" regarding new tariffs on dozens of countries, with President Donald Trump's temporary global levy due to expire this week.
The Trump administration has readied fresh tariffs targeting 60 trading partners over their alleged failures to act against forced labour, as officials push to rebuild the US leader's trade agenda after legal setbacks.
"The US has laws to prohibit trading goods with forced labour. Other countries, most don't have a law, those that do don't really enforce it," Greer told CNBC.
"We expect to see some action soon," he added, although adding that he cannot specify a timeline.
While Trump imposed a 10-per cent global duty this year after a swath of his tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court in February, this levy expires Friday.
Analysts expect that the planned tariffs over forced labour concerns — which range between 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent — would replace the temporary duties.
Greer added Tuesday that the new action will cover the vast majority of US trade.
But the moves could reignite tensions with trading partners. The European Union, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Japan are all among targeted economies.
The move also comes as Washington last week announced a 25-per cent tariff on various Brazilian products, while setting a 50-per cent duty on many Canadian goods.
Besides the probes on forced labour, separate US investigations into excess manufacturing capacity are also ongoing and could lead to further action.
