Government previously said it was not aware of Singapore goods made from forced labour that were exported to the US

The United States is proposing new 12.5% tariffs on goods coming from Singapore and other economies after its trade agency found that they fell short of taking action when it comes to products made from forced labour.

Singapore and 53 other economies are being accused by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) of failing to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.

Six other economies are also accused of failing to effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.

"The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable," United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said.

"This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field."

Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) previously rejected the USTR's claims in written comments to the trade agency in April, stating that there is no evidence of the country's role in supply chains of goods associated with forced labour to the US.

The MTI added it is not aware of any goods produced with forced labour that have been exported to the US from Singapore.

"Singapore does not condone the use of forced labour in supply chains and has a comprehensive framework to enforce...

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