Global Economy
Trump Administration Threatens Morocco with 12.5% Tariff Over Forced‑Labor Concerns
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that Morocco could face an additional 12.5% duty on most of its exports to the United States. The move is part of a broader USTR effort to penalise countries that have not enacted effective bans on forced‑labour products, and it could undermine the benefits Morocco enjoys under its 2006 free‑trade agreement with the United States.
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Background
Under the Trump administration, a new trade measure targeting products linked to forced labor is being prepared. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has signaled that Morocco could face an additional 12.5% duty on most of its exports to the United States.
USTR proposal
The USTR has already announced a 10% extra duty for countries that have adopted comprehensive or partial import controls against forced‑labour goods. Nations that have not taken such steps—Morocco among them—are slated for a higher 12.5% rate.
- Expected announcement: early next week.
- Possible exemptions for products already covered by Section 232 or other specific categories.
Morocco’s legal framework
Morocco criminalises forced labor through Article 10 of its Labour Code and a 2016 anti‑human‑trafficking law. However, the country currently lacks a dedicated customs mechanism to vet supply chains for forced‑labour violations, a gap highlighted by the USTR.
Potential trade impact
If the 12.5% duty is applied, it could erode the preferential access Moroccan exporters enjoy under the 2006 U.S.–Morocco Free Trade Agreement. The duty would be a Section 301 measure, separate from the existing 10% “global” tariff that expires on Friday.
In 2025, Moroccan imports to the United States were roughly $1.9 billion, while U.S. exports to Morocco totalled about $5.5 billion.