美国总统特朗普对包括澳大利亚在内的41个国家实施新的12.5%关税，于周五生效，替代即将过期的临时10%关税。[1]美国声称这些措施是针对全球供应链中强迫劳动问题，理由是这41个经济体未能"实施并有效执行对用强迫劳动生产的商品进口的禁止"。[1]而那些已拥有强迫劳动进口禁令或已承诺实施相关措施的国家，仅需支付10%关税。[1]
澳大利亚政府对此强烈反对。贸易部长唐·法雷尔称这些关税是"不正当的"且"与现有的美澳自由贸易协议不一致"，并要求撤销。[1]美澳贸易关系总价值为1.32万亿美元，澳大利亚对美国出口自2025年4月增加了67%。[1]
全球约5000万人处于现代奴隶制状况，澳大利亚约40000人。[1]澳大利亚现代奴隶制法案2018要求年收入超1亿美元的公司报告供应链风险。[1]
President Trump has imposed a 12.5% tariff on goods from 41 countries, including Australia, effective this week, replacing an expiring temporary 10% levy [1]. The U.S. administration justified the measure by stating that these 41 economies have failed to "implement and effectively enforce prohibitions on imports of goods produced with forced labor" [1].
Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell condemned the tariffs as "unjustified" and inconsistent with the existing Australia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement [1]. The bilateral trade relationship is valued at $13.2 billion [1]. Australian exports to the United States have increased 67% since April 2025 [1]. Countries that have either enacted forced labor import bans or committed to implementing them will only pay the lower 10% rate [1].
The tariff action occurs against the backdrop of a significant global forced labor challenge. Approximately 50 million people worldwide are in conditions of modern slavery, with roughly 40,000 in Australia [1]. Australia's Modern Slavery Act of 2018 requires companies with annual revenue exceeding $100 million to report supply chain risks [1].