SINGAPORE, July 24 -- The United States has imposed a new 12.5 per cent tariff on about one-third of Singapore's domestic exports, citing forced labour concerns.

According to a report by the Straits Times, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said the levy took effect at 12.01am Eastern time on July 24.

A notice in the US Federal Register listed Singapore among dozens of economies now facing duties of between 10 and 12.5 per cent.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said, "The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it's well past time for our trading partners to do the same."

The USTR investigation, which began in March and concluded in July, placed Singapore among 45 ...