USTR Launches 301 Probe Into Forced-Labor Goods, Korea Among 60 Partners

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office announced on the 12th local time the launch of a Section 301 investigation into imports of goods produced with forced labor, targeting 60 major trade partners, including Korea, China, and Japan. The action runs in parallel with another 301 inquiry into overproduction that was announced the day before, as Washington seeks to replace tariffs that were struck down by the Supreme Court last month.

In its filing, the USTR said the investigation will determine whether actions, policies, and practices by foreign governments or other actors are unreasonable, discriminatory, or burdensome to U.S. industry, and whether they restrict U.S. markets.

An unnamed USTR official argued that, despite international agreements against forced labor, many governments fail to prohibit and enforce bans on such goods effectively. He said American workers and firms have faced competitive disadvantages because foreign producers can access U.S. markets with fewer enforcement costs.

The agency stressed that the probe will assess whether foreign governments have taken adequate measures to curb imports produced with forced labor and how weak enforcement affects U.S. workers and companies. The 60 economies include a broad set of partners such as the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Vietnam, and the triad economies of China, Japan, and Korea.

The process calls for written comments by April 15 and requests to appear at public hearings. If needed, hearings are slated for April 28 to May 1, with rebuttals due within seven days after the final hearing. Once the hearings conclude, the USTR will issue findings and determine possible tariff or other actions.

This investigation sits within the framework of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and follows the Trump administration’s use of Section 122 to impose global 10 percent tariffs on all trading partners earlier this year. Those Section 122 tariffs have a maximum 150-day duration, and observers expect the administration to press for new measures under 301 once this window closes.

The 60 economies listed include both developed and growing markets, reflecting how U.S. concerns about forced labor touch a wide swath of global supply chains. Repercussions could affect imports and the cost structure for American manufacturers and consumers depending on the outcome.

For U.S. readers, the significance lies in potential changes to the cost and availability of imported goods, the push to tighten labor standards in global supply chains, and the broader reshaping of trade policy as Washington seeks to leverage tariffs to address non-market practices. The result could influence sectors ranging from electronics and textiles to automotive components, and may affect how U.S. firms source materials from Asia, Europe, and beyond.