Overview
- The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative launched a Section 301 investigation into forced-labor risks across 60 major exporting countries, including Brazil, China and the European Union.
- The inquiry will assess whether foreign governments sufficiently block imports made with forced labor and how any gaps harm U.S. workers and businesses, USTR spokesperson Jamieson Greer said.
- Possible outcomes include trade sanctions such as additional tariffs on imports from countries judged to be falling short on prevention and enforcement.
- Brazil’s vice president Geraldo Alckmin rejected suggestions of systemic abuses, citing treaty commitments and labor inspections carried out by the Ministry of Labor.
- China’s Commerce Ministry condemned the probe as arbitrary and protectionist and said it raised objections in Paris talks between Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, urging the U.S. to reverse course.