US launches forced labor trade probes in 60 countries

ISTANBUL

The US administration on Thursday launched investigations into 60 countries over alleged failures to prevent the import of goods produced with forced labor, using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The move could allow Washington to impose tariffs or other trade restrictions.

The probe covers major trading partners including China, the EU, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, India, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Switzerland, Norway, Taiwan, the UK, and Türkiye, as well as countries across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

Other countries and territories included in the probe are Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the investigations aim to ensure foreign producers do not gain an unfair advantage by using forced labor.

“For too long, American workers and firms have been forced to compete against foreign producers who may have an artificial cost advantage gained from the scourge of forced labor,” he said in a statement.

Many countries, according to USTR documents, lack strong restrictions on imports made with forced labor, potentially allowing companies to source and profit from such products, disadvantaging US firms.

Section 301 investigations will assess whether governments have taken sufficient steps to block these imports and the impact on US workers and businesses.

While no tariffs were announced, Section 301 gives the USTR authority to impose duties or import restrictions if unfair trade practices are found.

The administration is increasingly using Section 301 as a legal pathway to revive tariff strategies after last month’s Supreme Court ruling struck down many Trump-era tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The announcement comes a day after separate Section 301 probes were launched into 16 trading partners over “structural excess capacity” in manufacturing sectors.

Officials view these investigations as a more durable way to implement broader US tariff measures.