The EU will demand explanations for the new customs tariffs imposed by the USA, announces Kaja Kallas: "The accusation is not really justified."

Kaja Kallas, head of the European Union's diplomacy, has challenged Washington's arguments for imposing new tariffs on European products, stating on Friday that the accusations regarding the deficiencies of the community bloc in controlling forced labor are unfounded, reports Reuters.

During the ASEAN meetings in Manila, Kallas emphasized that EU labor legislation provides favorable conditions for employees, including paid leave, and contested the accusations of lax enforcement of bans on forced labor.

"If we compare our labor legislation with that of the United States... well, we have paid leave, we have very good working conditions for employees, so the accusation is not really justified," she added.

The Trump administration imposed these tariffs following the expiration of a temporary global tariff, and Kallas mentioned that the EU did not expect such action.

She also highlighted that the EU will seek clarifications from Washington, considering that the community bloc has fulfilled its commitments under a recent trade agreement.

These tariffs represent the latest attempt to implement the vision from President Donald Trump's campaign regarding an almost global tariff, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down earlier this year the "reciprocal" tariffs imposed by him based on emergency powers, in an attempt to reduce the U.S. trade deficit.