The US president's threat may be opportunistic but the concerns aren't entirely baseless, experts say.

Donald Trump's administration has been scrambling to rebuild it's tariff agenda after a supreme court decision.

The Trump administration has proposed a 12.5 per cent tariff on all Australian exports to the United States, in a move aimed at cracking down on goods linked to forced labour.

The move comes months after Washington launched investigations into 60 economies, including China, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines.

The Trump administration has proposed an extra 12.5 per cent tariff on Australia, angering the federal government.

An investigation by the US Trade Representative has alleged Australia failed to prevent the import of goods produced using forced labour.

Trade minister says Australia has ‘robust, comprehensive and world-leading legislation addressing forced labour and modern slavery’

Australia could be hit with a new US tariff after the Trump administration accused dozens of countries of failing to crack down on goods made with forced labour.

Australia had "robust, comprehensive and world-leading legislation" addressing forced labour and modern slavery, a spokesperson says.

Trade Minister Don Farrell has rejected accusations Canberra isn’t doing enough to combat modern slavery after the White House threatened a 12.5 per cent levy.

The planned new tariff is to be slapped on dozens of countries that have allegedly failed to take action to prevent slavery and forced labour.

The US president's threat may be opportunistic but the concerns aren't entirely baseless, experts say.

Donald Trump had been using tariffs to increase his power over other countries until America's Supreme Court stepped in. He was never going to cede that power easily.

Fresh US tariffs based on American law aimed at combatting forced labour

Anti-slavery commissioner Chris Evans said the Trump administration had conducted a “show trial” before proposing its new tariff.

One-third of Singapore’s exports could be slapped with a NEW 12.5 per cent tariff. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

LONDON: President Donald Trump's threat to slap new tariffs on trade partners the United States accuses of failing to crack down on forced labour will do little to fight modern…