Trump Administration Opens Section 301 Forced‑Labor Probes of About 60 Countries to Rebuild Tariff Regime After Supreme Court Ruling
The Trump administration on Thursday formally opened Section 301 investigations into alleged forced‑labor practices in about 60 countries as part of a push to rebuild country‑by‑country tariffs after the Supreme Court’s 6–3 decision striking down much of his prior IEEPA‑based tariff regime, and a day earlier USTR Jamieson Greer opened separate Section 301 probes into “structural excess capacity” in 16 trading partners, creating a two‑track legal pathway for new tariffs. The administration has already imposed a 10% emergency tariff under Section 122 (has floated 15% but not enacted it, and Section 122 limits such measures to 150 days), Greer said other countries lack strong bans on importing goods made with forced labor that can undercut U.S. firms, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed belief the tariff rates could be restored within five months, and the forced‑labor probes cover most major trading partners including China, Canada, Mexico, the EU, U.K., Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Australia.
📌 Key Facts
- The administration formally launched Section 301 forced‑labor investigations on Thursday into about 60 countries and territories as part of rebuilding the tariff regime.
- The Section 301 probes are explicitly linked to President Trump’s strategy to restore country‑by‑country tariffs after the Supreme Court’s 6–3 ruling that struck down most of his prior IEEPA‑based tariff regime.
- A separate set of Section 301 investigations into “structural excess capacity” in 16 trading partners was opened a day earlier, creating a two‑track legal pathway for new tariffs.
- After the Supreme Court ruling, Trump used Section 122 to impose an immediate 10% tariff on most imports, has floated raising it to 15% but has not done so, and Section 122 emergency tariffs last only up to 150 days without Congressional approval.
- USTR Jamieson Greer said the probes target countries that allegedly lack strong bans on imports made with forced labor, allowing firms there to source, use and profit from such products and undercut U.S. companies.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC he has a “strong belief that the tariff rates will be back to their old rate within five months,” indicating the administration’s expected timeline.
- The roughly 60 jurisdictions under the forced‑labor investigations include most major U.S. trading partners — for example, China, Canada, Mexico, the EU, the U.K., Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Australia.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that the forced‑labor investigations under Section 301 have been formally launched Thursday, not just planned.
- Explicitly links these Section 301 probes to Trump’s strategy for restoring country‑by‑country tariffs after the Supreme Court’s 6–3 ruling struck down most of his prior tariff regime under IEEPA.
- Details that a day earlier, USTR Jamieson Greer opened a separate set of Section 301 investigations into "structural excess capacity" in 16 trading partners, creating a two‑track legal pathway for new tariffs.
- Clarifies that Trump imposed a 10% tariff on most imports immediately after the Supreme Court ruling using Section 122, has floated raising it to 15% but has not yet formally done so, and that Section 122 allows those emergency tariffs for only up to 150 days without Congress.
- Quotes Greer’s rationale that other countries allegedly lack strong bans on importing goods made with forced labor, allowing firms there to "source, use, and profit" from such products and undercut U.S. companies.
- Includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s statement on CNBC that it is his “strong belief that the tariff rates will be back to their old rate within five months,” signaling administration expectations on timing.
- Provides a partial list of the roughly 60 countries and territories subject to the forced‑labor investigations, covering most major U.S. trading partners (e.g., China, Canada, Mexico, EU, U.K., Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Australia).