Trump Unleashes Sweeping Tariffs on 60 Nations Over Forced Labor, Hitting India Hard as Oil Crisis Batters Markets
In a bold and far-reaching move that is already sending shockwaves through global trade, the Trump administration has imposed new double-digit tariffs on imports from 60 countries, covering virtually all of America’s trading partners, citing their failure to stamp out forced labor in supply chains.
The duties, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, take effect as previous temporary tariffs expire. Officials say the action targets nations that have not adequately banned or enforced prohibitions on goods produced with forced labor. India is squarely in the crosshairs: after an initial proposal of 12.5%, the final levy on Indian goods settles at 10%.U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer framed the decision as a defense of American workers and a demand for fair play. Critics abroad call it protectionism by another name. For India, the timing could scarcely be worse. Even as New Delhi navigates ongoing trade discussions with Washington, exporters now face an immediate new barrier into the world’s largest consumer market.
Compounding the pressure, Indian markets opened lower as global oil prices smashed through the $100-a-barrel mark for the first time since May, driven by escalating conflict in the Middle East. The twin blows of higher energy costs and fresh U.S. tariffs threaten to squeeze corporate margins, fuel inflation concerns, and test the resilience of India’s export-driven sectors.
This is no routine trade adjustment. It is a high-stakes assertion of American economic power under Trump – one that could reshape supply chains, spark retaliation, and redefine commercial relationships with dozens of nations, India included.
