USTR

President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed a freight train accident on the Interoceanic Railroad in Mexico, clarified it was not a derailment, and discussed ongoing inspections. She also condemned the death of a Mexican man in Florida following an ICE operation, emphasizing that migration should not be criminalized, and confirmed upcoming U.S.-Mexico trade talks.

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed new tariffs citing forced labor concerns, based on a Section 301 investigation into unfair trade practices. The investigation aims to support the reinstatement of tariffs previously imposed under the Trump administration.

The Trump administration is proposing tariffs of 10% or more on products from major trading partners, including Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, the UK, and others, following an investigation into forced labor practices. China, Japan, India, and other countries would face 12.5% tariffs, with the U.S. Trade Representative citing failures to enforce forced labor import bans. The Chinese government denied the allegations, calling for dialogue to resolve economic issues.

The U.S. has proposed new tariffs targeting 60 economies over forced labor trade practices. The USTR outlined a 10% duty for economies with full or partial forced labor prohibitions and a 12.5% duty for all others.

The US Trade Representative designated Vietnam as a Priority Foreign Country for intellectual property in the Special 301 Report, the first such designation in 13 years. The decision cites concerns including online piracy, counterfeiting, and inadequate border enforcement.