US opens unfair trade practices probe of 60 countries over forced labour
Why it matters: Potential tariffs could redraw global supply chains and heighten geopolitical friction.
- U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the probe, saying it will assess whether foreign governments have taken “sufficient steps” to block forced‑labour goods.
- President Donald Trump is re‑imposing a 10 % temporary tariff under Section 122 and hopes the investigations will produce permanent measures before the tariffs expire in July.
- China and Russia appear on the list, underscoring the probe’s use as a geopolitical lever against major rivals.
- Allied nations such as the EU, Canada, Australia, Britain, India, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are also targeted, signaling that the U.S. will not spare traditional partners.
- Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act already enabled bans on Xinjiang goods, providing a legal precedent for expanding restrictions to other economies.
The U.S. Trade Representative launched a Section 301 probe into 60 countries, accusing them of failing to curb forced‑labour imports, a move that could trigger new tariffs on allies and rivals alike as the Trump administration seeks to restore trade pressure after a Supreme Court rebuke.
