On March 12, 2026, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) initiated Section 301 investigations into the forced labor import enforcement practices of 60 economies, including China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and India. The investigations aim to determine if other countries' failure to effectively enforce prohibitions on importing forced-labor goods creates unfair cost advantages, burdening U.S. commerce. They specifically scrutinize whether nations allow forced-labor goods, which would be denied entry into the U.S., to be sold in their own markets, thereby disadvantaging U.S. exports. USTR has requested consultations with the governments of these economies in connection with these investigations. USTR will hold hearings for these investigations on April 28, 2026. Interested persons may submit written comments, and/or request to appear at the hearing, along with a summary of their testimony, by April 15, 2026.
