U.S. launches fresh Section 301 probes into 60 economies over forced-labor trade practices

In this article

• CAAS

Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT

Scott Bessent, US treasury secretary, speaks during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.

Kent Nishimura | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The U.S. on Thursday stateside announced new trade investigations into 60 economies over what it termed as probes aimed at determining if these economies failed to curb imports of goods produced with forced labor.

The probes, conducted under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, include China, the European Union, India and Mexico, according to a statement from the United States Trade Representative.

“Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said.

“These investigations will determine whether foreign governments have taken sufficient steps to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor and how the failure to eradicate these abhorrent practices impacts U.S. workers and businesses,” he said.

Section 301 permits the U.S. to impose tariffs on countries found to have engaged in unfair trade practices without congressional authorization — legal authority that Trump had used during his first term to levy duties on Chinese goods.

The new investigations could ultimately replace at least some of the reciprocal tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down last month.

The probes landed as Bessent is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart He Lifeng in Paris this weekend to continue bilateral trade and economic talks.

This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.

Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.