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New tariffs pose problem for exporters

[ September 1, 2026   //   ]

The new Modern Slavery tariffs imposed by US President trump on a number of countries, including the UK, could challenges for exporters, says David Taylor, global commercial director at Heathrow e-commerce specialist Mark 3 International.

The US put the new policy designed to fight modern slavery on 24 July with rates of 10% applied to economies that have banned or pledged to ban forced-labour imports – which includes the UK and 12.5% for those that have not.

Taylor said that since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Trump’s second administration has altered US tariff policy over 50 times. He explained: “While addressing the appalling use of forced labour is incredibly important, it is possible that this legislation has been introduced to deflect Congressional attention away from scrutinising the White House’s wider economic policy.

“In the last 18 months we have seen a raft of changes to US trade policy, each of which has had serious ramifications for the UK’s exporters. This latest challenge, like those before it, is further compounded by the limited readiness of many major carriers and postal operators to adapt to a transformation at this scale and speed.

“As America’s domestic politics continues to become more complex, it is likely that further tariffs will follow, adding yet greater international uncertainty.”

The implementation of Section 301 comes only days after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) introduced new postal informal entry procedures.

Taylor continues, “The removal of de minimis exceptions, the new regulations for ensuring all US imports are correctly declared, and the administration’s use of tariffs combine to make it difficult to trade internationally.

“Beyond the broader point, there are immediate consequences too. For example, as part of the Section 301 announcement, there is only a four-day grace period for goods already in transit. This can significantly impact the ability to trade with the US, which remains the largest economy in the world.”

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