Overview
- USTR formally opened two expedited investigations, one on forced-labor import bans covering the European Union plus 59 countries and another on structural excess manufacturing capacity in 16 economies.
- The forced-labor inquiry will assess whether failures to impose or enforce prohibitions are unreasonable or discriminatory and whether they burden U.S. commerce.
- The excess-capacity case targets policies in economies including China, the EU, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam that USTR says sustain overproduction in sectors such as steel, autos, batteries and solar modules.
- Public comments and requests to testify are due April 15, with hearings scheduled for April 28–May 1 on forced-labor issues and May 5–8 on excess capacity.
- If USTR reaches affirmative findings, the administration could impose tariffs or other trade measures, and the notice cites an estimated $63.9 billion in annual profits tied to weak forced-labor enforcement.