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Fri, 13 Mar 2026

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 New US trade probe targets EU, Canada, UK over forced labour

The US said it would examine whether countries are effectively blocking goods made with "forced labour".
The US has launched a new trade investigation into 60 countries, including China, the EU, Canada, and the UK, amid concerns that they are not doing enough to prevent goods made with forced labor from entering the US market. The probe, led by the US Trade Representative, will examine whether these countries have taken adequate measures to block sales of such goods, which could put US businesses at a disadvantage. A second Section 301 investigation was announced this week, as part of the Trump administration's efforts to impose new tariffs on imported goods. The move comes after the Supreme Court struck down earlier tariffs imposed by President Trump last month. The countries targeted in the probe also include Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Mexico, India, Japan, and New Zealand. According to the US, none of these countries have effectively enforced rules blocking sales of forced labor-made goods, despite adopting measures intended to do so. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that American workers and businesses have been unfairly competing against foreign producers who may benefit from artificially low costs due to forced labor. The probe is expected to lead to further tariffs being imposed on imported goods. Public hearings on the issue are scheduled for April, as part of a more orderly process than previous tariff announcements under President Trump.