The US is weaponsing a law designed to block imports made with 'forced labour" to end a court-imposed block on tariffs that used another law.
New Zealand will be caught up in this stand-off if it proceeds.
This is what the US Trade Representative has ruled:
The U.S. Trade Representative today has determined that the failure of each of the 60 investigated economies to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition is unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce, and thus is actionable under Section 301(b)(1) of the Trade Act. In particular, the U.S. Trade Representative determined:
- The following 54 economies have failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor:
- Algeria; Angola; Argentina; Australia; the Bahamas; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Brazil; Cambodia; Chile; China, People’s Republic of; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Egypt; El Salvador; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Iraq; Israel; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kuwait; Libya; Malaysia; Morocco; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Norway; Oman; Peru; the Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; South Africa; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Switzerland; Taiwan; Thailand; Trinidad and Tobago; Türkiye; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; Uruguay; Venezuela; and Vietnam.
- The following six economies have failed to effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor: Canada; Ecuador, the European Union; Indonesia; Mexico; and Pakistan.
- Therefore, all of the investigated economies have failed both to impose a forced labor import prohibition and to effectively enforce such a prohibition.
If enacted, exports from New Zealand (and all the countries listed) will attract a 12.5% tariff.
3 Comments
NZ needs to disentangle itself from this despotic clown show that is the US. As much as our right wing poiticians fawn over American exceptionalism, its' exceptional politicians and golden ballrooms, it's time to draw a line under the insults! Look for ties elsewhere!
Entrenched though isn’t it. Not just New Zealand. That great fat daddy golden mile has been as a bright porch light to moths. Everybody wanted in regardless, and simply because it was perceived as just being the most lucrative market on this planet. In a converse way Trump, with his tariffs and barriers is actually addressing that status. The thing is though, if the USA actually needs the product, lean NZ grinding beef for example, the trade takes care of itself.
...dodgy 'investigation'
Mandy Te wrote on this site, this year, about extensive failings of current NZ law on the issue.
We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment
Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.