India, June 3 -- The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed imposing additional duties of up to 12.5% on imports from multiple countries, including India, over allegations of failure to effectively prohibit and enforce restrictions on goods produced using forced labour.

In a statement, the USTR said, "The U.S. Trade Representative proposes additional duties on all products of the investigated economies, except as provided in Annex A to the Federal Register notice."

The proposal also includes a textile mechanism allowing a specified volume of apparel and textile imports from certain economies to enter the US at a reduced Section 301 tariff rate.

Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974 allows the US governme...