Asia-Pacific nations have pushed back against the 10% to 12.5% "forced labor tariffs" imposed by the Donald Trump administration, calling them unjust.

Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, whose country was hit with a 12.5% tariff, held a press conference on the 24th, stating that the tariffs are unjust, inconsistent with the (US-Australia) Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and should be scrapped.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles also said in an interview with the public broadcaster ABC that he was disappointed, calling the Trump administration's tariff decision "truly nonsensical."

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, also subject to the 12.5% tariff, released a statement expressing extreme disappointment and pointing out that the US investigation failed to provide meaningful evidence to support claims regarding forced labor.

He went on to emphasize that tariffs are not a solution and only increase costs and uncertainty for businesses.

New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay also criticized the claim that forced-labor-produced goods have a material impact on New Zealand's economy as completely unbelievable, arguing that the investigation by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) was merely a "legal pretext" to impose new tariffs.

Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, whose country is also targeted by the 12.5% tariff, criticized the move as lacking economic justification.

Minister Balakrishnan told local media that he raised the issue the previous day in Manila, Philippines, where the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting was being held, when he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He stated that he firmly pointed out to Secretary Rubio that the US runs a trade surplus with Singapore—with the surplus actually growing—and that there is therefore no technical or economic basis whatsoever to impose tariffs on them.

Backlash from the private sector has also continued, with George Barcelon, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, telling AFP that the fairly high tax rate of 12.5% imposed this time is deeply concerning and surprising, warning that it will undermine industrial competitiveness.

He also stated that he expects the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry to lodge an objection against the tariffs.

Previously, the US USTR announced that it had finalized tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on 60 countries, taking issue with the import of goods produced with forced labor.