Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has announced its decision to implement tariffs of up to 12.5 percent on South Korea, Japan, and other trading partners due to concerns over forced labor. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) revealed these tariffs, ranging from 10 percent to 12.5 percent, after conducting investigations on 60 economies under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. This investigation aimed to ascertain if these economies had adequately banned imports made with forced labor.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the timing of the announcement aligns with the expiration of the administration's temporary 10-percent global tariffs, originally set to end on Friday. These tariffs were initially introduced following the Supreme Court's decision to invalidate the Trump administration's country-specific "reciprocal tariffs" in February. The USTR had previously suggested a 12.5 percent tariff on South Korea and other economies last month, rooted in forced labor concerns.

In response, the South Korean government submitted comments to the USTR, encouraging a reassessment of the proposed tariffs. They described the tariffs as "unwarranted" and "disproportionate," considering South Korea's circumstances as Asia's fourth-largest economy. Apart from forced labor concerns, the USTR has also been conducting Section 301 investigations into South Korea, China, Japan, and 13 other trading partners. These investigations are aimed at identifying "unfair" trade practices related to "structural" excess capacity and production.

The recent investigations and tariff impositions emerge as the Trump administration attempts to replace the previously invalidated reciprocal tariffs, which were enacted under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).