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US imposes 10-12.5% tariffs on 60 nations over forced labor concerns

Illustration accompanying article: US imposes 10-12.5% tariffs on 60 nations over forced labor concerns
  • The Trump administration announced new tariffs of 10-12.5% on 60 trading partners on June 3 over their failure to address forced labor in imported goods.
  • The affected countries — including the UK, the EU, Canada, and Japan — account for 99.4% of US goods imports.
  • US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the practice of trading with nations that import forced-labor goods creates an unlevel playing field for American workers.
  • The US Trade Department said after an investigation that all 60 countries had failed to prohibit and enforce bans on importing goods made with forced labor.
  • The new duties follow the Supreme Court's February ruling that struck down the earlier "Liberation Day" tariffs as unlawful.
  • Critics have said Trump's tariff policy has caused price rises in the US and abroad.
 3 MIN READ

Massachusetts Uber and Lyft drivers form first US ride-hailing union

Illustration accompanying article: Massachusetts Uber and Lyft drivers form first US ride-hailing union
  • Massachusetts has certified the App Drivers Union as the collective bargaining representative for nearly 70,000 Uber and Lyft drivers, the first statewide ride-hailing union in the U.S.
  • The certification, made possible by a 2024 ballot measure, marks what labor leaders called the largest private-sector organizing victory since Ford autoworkers unionized in 1941.
  • Drivers cited falling take-home pay, rising vehicle costs, and the threat of sudden deactivations as key motivations for organizing.
  • Uber and Lyft have said they will work with the union while seeking to preserve driver flexibility and affordability for riders.
  • The organizing push unfolds alongside the rapid expansion of autonomous vehicle technology, with drivers expressing anxiety about future job displacement.
  • Supporters said the victory could inspire similar union drives in California, Illinois, and other states with large gig-economy workforces.
 4 MIN READ
Illustration accompanying article: Iraqi captain keeps sailing volatile waters amid regional war