The United States imposes a 12.5% tariff on certain Moroccan imports.
New U.S. Tariffs on Moroccan Imports: A 12.5% Duty in Response to Forced Labor Concerns
The United States has announced the implementation of new tariffs of 12.5% on certain imports from Morocco. This measure is part of a broader trade policy introduced by the administration of President Donald Trump, targeting multiple trade partners following a review of criteria related to combating forced labor within supply chains.
According to a list published by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Morocco is among several Arab countries whose exports to the American market will now be subject to these tariffs. Other affected nations include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Iraq, Algeria, and Libya. Imports from Jordan will incur a tax rate of 10%.
This decision comes after a commercial review concerning nearly 60 U.S. trading partners, aimed at assessing compliance with American requirements for preventing the entry of goods produced through forced labor.
The U.S. administration clarifies that the 12.5% rate applies to countries deemed insufficiently compliant with forced labor criteria, while the 10% rate is designated for nations that have taken measures in this area but have not reached the compliance level required by Washington.
The new tariffs will take effect Friday at 12:01 AM (New York time). However, some shipments that left their countries of origin before this deadline will qualify for an exemption.
Furthermore, several categories of products will remain exempt from these new measures and will continue to adhere to their specific trade regimes. This includes fuels, food products, fertilizers, automobiles, metals, and pharmaceuticals.
