US cites forced labour concerns as grounds for new tariffs

Article excerpt

The U.S. Trade Representative's Office has opened a Section 301 investigation into forced labor practices, signaling a potential pathway to impose new tariffs under the Trump administration. The investigation frames labor violations as unfair trade practices, a legal mechanism that could justify broad duties on imports. Officials say the probe targets countries or companies with documented forced labor in their supply chains, though specifics remain unclear. The move represents a strategic shift in tariff justification, moving beyond traditional intellectual property disputes toward human rights and labor standards as leverage.