U.S. Trade Rep Pledges to Respect 15% Tariff Cap on EU, Japan Goods While Announcing New Forced-Labor Duties on 60 Nations

According to Reuters, on June 4, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer pledged to respect the 15% tariff cap on most EU and Japanese goods agreed under prior trade deals, stating "an agreement is an agreement."

The U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) simultaneously announced new tariffs targeting 60 countries, citing Section 301 investigation findings that these nations have failed to prevent trade in forced-labor-made goods. An additional Section 301 investigation covering structural industrial overcapacity, involving China, the EU, and Japan, is expected within weeks.