The Trump administration launches unfair trade and forced labour investigations targeting major economies, including China, the EU, and Japan, aiming to impose new tariffs by summer after the Supreme Court dismantled its previous tariff program in February 2026.Â
The Trump administration announced two new trade investigations on 11 March 2026, targeting unfair trade practices and forced labour as it seeks to rebuild tariff pressure following the US Supreme Court’s dismantling of Trump’s tariff program in February 2026.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer initiated a Section 301 investigation into excess industrial capacity across 16 major trading partners, including China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. New tariffs could be imposed by summer 2025.
The probe highlights China’s automotive sector, particularly electric vehicle maker BYD, which continues expanding globally despite domestic overcapacity. BYD operates factories in Uzbekistan, Thailand, Brazil, Hungary, and Turkey, with plans for European expansion even as existing plants run at just 55% capacity.
Other countries under scrutiny include Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Switzerland, and Norway. Notably, Canada was excluded from the investigation.
Forced labour investigation spans 60+ countries
On Thursday, 12 March 2026, Greer will launch a second Section 301 probe examining forced labour practices in over 60 countries. This builds on existing restrictions under the Uyghur Forced Labour Protection Act, which targets goods from China’s Xinjiang region.
The investigations follow strict deadlines, with public comments due by 15 April 2025 and hearings scheduled around 5 May 2025. Greer aims to complete both probes before temporary 10% tariffs—imposed in late February for 150 days—expire in July.
These actions come as the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global tariffs as illegal on 20 February 2025, effectively reducing leverage against China by 10 percentage points. The new investigations provide legal grounds to reimpose tariffs, as Section 301 authority has successfully withstood previous court challenges.
