Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the latest U.S. protectionist measures, Argentina endorsing Brazil’s far-right presidential candidate, and a new seat of power in the United Kingdom.

Forced Labor Allegations

U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war is back in full swing. On Friday, the White House imposed sweeping tariffs on 60 U.S. trading partners, including China and the European Union, igniting fierce condemnation from foreign leaders. Although Washington claims that the duties—which range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent—are to punish countries for failing to crack down on forced labor, many argue that these allegations are merely a thinly veiled strategy to reimpose levies that the Supreme Court struck down months ago.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the latest U.S. protectionist measures, Argentina endorsing Brazil’s far-right presidential candidate, and a new seat of power in the United Kingdom.

Forced Labor Allegations

U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war is back in full swing. On Friday, the White House imposed sweeping tariffs on 60 U.S. trading partners, including China and the European Union, igniting fierce condemnation from foreign leaders. Although Washington claims that the duties—which range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent—are to punish countries for failing to crack down on forced labor, many argue that these allegations are merely a thinly veiled strategy to reimpose levies that the Supreme Court struck down months ago.

“Lacking a legal basis under domestic law to support its protectionist trade policy, the U.S. Trade Representative chose ‌to ⁠manipulate an issue of great importance to human rights and workers’ rights movement,” Brazil’s government said in a statement.

Friday’s duties were established under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. They replace a temporary global 10 percent levy that expired at 12:01 a.m. that same day; those tariffs were issued in February mere hours after the Supreme Court ruled that Trump lacked the authority to issue his initial tranche of duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Initial reactions to Trump’s newest tax were overwhelmingly........

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