US launches trade probes into 60 countries

13th Mar 2026 11:55

(Sharecast News) - A swathe of countries including the UK could be hit with fresh tariffs after the White House launched an investigation into practices around forced labour.

In a statement released late on Thursday, US trade representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that 60 trading partners would be probed under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act.

He said: "These investigations will determine whether foreign governments have taken sufficient steps to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labour and how the failure to eradicate these abhorrent practices impacts US workers and businesses."

Trading partners being investigated include the UK, European Union, Canada, India, Australia and Israel. China and Russia are also being probed.

The US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's global tariff regime on 20 February, prompting the administration to look at other ways to raise duties.

Trump called the ruling "ridiculous" and "anti-American", and immediately announced a 10% tariff on all countries for 150 days, and warned of more levies to come. The 10% tax was imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act, which allows the US president to impose temporarily tariffs. Extensions beyond 150 days require approval from Congress, however.

Greer said the Section 301 investigations were expected to conclude, including any proposed remedies, ahead of the temporary tariffs expiring in July.

The administration has already launched separate investigations into trading partners including Japan, South Korea and the EU that look at "excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors". Greer said earlier this week that "the tools may change" but the president's trade policy "remains the same...we need to protect American jobs and we need to make sure we have fair trade with our trading partners".