The United States Embassy in Kampala has clarified that Uganda is not among the 60 economies affected by fresh tariffs announced by President Donald Trump's administration under a new trade enforcement action targeting countries over forced labour concerns.
The clarification follows earlier reports that incorrectly claimed Uganda's exports would face a 30% tariff under the new US trade measures. The embassy said the final USTR directive does not list Uganda among the affected economies.
In a statement shared on Saturday, the embassy said Uganda does not appear on the final list of economies subject to the new tariffs.
"The latest directive shows Uganda is not among the affected economies," the embassy said, dispelling earlier reports that had linked the country to the trade action.
The tariffs were announced after the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) concluded investigations into 60 economies over what it described as failure to impose and effectively enforce bans on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
Announcing the measures, US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer said the action was intended to pressure trading partners to strengthen efforts against forced labour in global supply chains.
"President Trump recognises that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labor from global supply chains. The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it's well past time for our trading partners to do the same," Greer said.
The investigations were launched on March 12, 2026, following a directive from President Trump. They involved public hearings, consultations with more than 45 governments and the review of over 3,700 public submissions before the USTR reached its final determination.
Under the action, countries that already prohibit forced labour imports, have committed to doing so through reciprocal trade agreements, or operate partial enforcement regimes will face a 10% tariff.
Other investigated economies that have not adopted such prohibitions will be subject to a 12.5% tariff, while certain products from the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan will attract tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5%, net of existing Most-Favoured Nation rates.
The USTR said the measures apply to the top 60 US trading partners, accounting for 99.4% of US imports, although a range of products have been exempted to avoid supply disruptions and protect critical industries.
The exemptions cover certain raw materials, products unavailable in sufficient quantities in the United States, goods whose tariffs could cause wider economic disruption, and products intended to encourage countries to strengthen forced labour enforcement.
The latest clarification means Uganda's exports to the United States will not be affected by the newly announced Section 301 tariffs.
The clarification removes uncertainty for Ugandan exporters, preserving the country's access to the US market without the additional duties imposed under the latest Section 301 action.
Uganda's exports to the US include coffee, vanilla, cocoa, tea, fish products, textiles and apparel, with many products benefiting from preferential access under existing US trade arrangements.
The embassy's clarification means those exports will not be subject to the new tariffs announced against the 60 affected economies.
The announcement comes amid continuing legal and political scrutiny of President Trump's wider tariff agenda.
In recent months, US federal courts have ruled against some of the administration's broader tariff measures, finding that parts of the tariff regime exceeded presidential authority under emergency economic powers laws.
Those decisions have been appealed, with the tariffs remaining in effect pending the outcome of the legal process.
The Trump administration has also faced legal claims from US businesses seeking compensation for losses linked to tariffs imposed during earlier trade disputes, highlighting the continued legal and economic debate surrounding the administration's aggressive use of trade measures.
