Malaysia faces 10% duty under US’s new Section 301 tariffs over forced labour import rules
The United States has imposed a 10% tariff on imports from Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia under Section 301 of the Trade Act. The move targets countries failing to effectively enforce prohibitions against goods produced with forced labor.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in US trade policy, using tariffs as a tool to enforce international labor standards and human rights.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, among Asean countries, faces the lowest tariff of 10 per cent under the United States' new Section 301 tariffs following failure to impose and effectively enforce forced labour import rules.
Apart from Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia are also among ASEAN countries that are facing 10 per cent duties.
This follows an announcement by the US Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer released in Washington on Thursday.
Greer said the USTR is taking final action at President Donald Trump’s direction, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, by imposing tariffs on 60 economies for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
"Today’s action comes after the Office of USTR investigations, which included two rounds of public hearings, more than 2,100 public comments, and engagement with our trading partners to remedy these longstanding concerns," he said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in