COLOMBO, June 4 -- Sri Lanka has been included among dozens of countries facing new US import duties after Washington concluded that the country has failed to adequately prohibit and enforce restrictions on imports linked to forced labour, a move that could add pressure on Sri Lankan exporters, particularly the apparel sector.

In a report released on Wednesday (3), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said Sri Lanka was among a group of countries found to have failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.

"USTR found that Sri Lanka has failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition," the agency said, adding that the fail...