By Ian Werther in News — 13 Mar 2026

USTR Opens Section 301 Probe on Forced Labor in South Korea, 60 Partners.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has opened Section 301 investigations into about 60 trading partners to determine whether foreign governments have taken adequate steps to curb forced labor in imported goods. The aim is to determine if such products should be restricted entry into U.S. markets.

The list of partner countries includes Korea, China, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, among others. The inquiry will assess whether foreign actions to prevent forced-labor products entering the market have been sufficient and how gaps could affect American workers and businesses.

This image is excerpted from a U.S. GAO report:
www.gao.gov/products/GAO-15-160
FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS: U.S. Partners Are Addressing Labor Commitments, but More Monitoring and Enforcement Are Needed
Legend: FTA = free trade agreement, USTR = Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
a) DOL may extend the timeframe if it determines that circumstances require such an extension.

b) The free trade commission established for each FTA is the primary forum for bilateral dialogue about the FTA's implementation. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

USTR said it has requested consultations with the affected countries. A public hearing is planned for the 28th of next month, and written comments and requests to appear at the hearing are due by the 15th of next month.

The announcement follows a related move the day before, when USTR disclosed investigations under Section 301 into 16 other economic actors. The broader push underscores Washington’s intensified focus on labor standards in global supply chains.

The background note also references last month’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the reciprocal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unlawful. That ruling could influence how the United States uses tariffs in retaliation or leverage in trade disputes.

section of female Ascaris photographed with Nikon 1,40 Darkfield oil condenser. 200 magnification. The large circles filled with small green circles are the uterus and eggs. The long narrow feature is the digestive tract. The smaller red and orange circles are the ovaries and oviducts. The cluster of green and black blobs in the upper right and lower left are the nerve cords (ventral and dorsal). Surrounding the internal organs are the frilly green longitudinal muscles, the dark hypodermis, and the green outer cuticle. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

For U.S. readers, the developments matter because forced-labor enforcement can affect the cost and availability of consumer and industrial goods—from textiles to electronics—while shaping corporate compliance requirements and supplier choices. The actions also carry implications for allies and competitors in technology, manufacturing, and global markets.

Context and definitions help explain the stakes: Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 authorizes the USTR to investigate and respond to foreign trade practices that burden or restrict U.S. commerce, including by imposing tariffs. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act gives the President authority to regulate international commerce in national emergencies. How these tools are used can influence supply chains, pricing, and U.S. policy toward key partners.

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