The Trump administration has proposed a new 12.5% tariff on Australia and a slew of other countries for allegedly failing to take action to prevent slavery. An investigation by United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer found that Australia had “failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition.”
USSC Non-Resident Fellow Dr John Kunkel spoke with the Sydney Morning Herald, saying the investigation was likely his "attempt to put US tariffs on a more solid legal basis."