On March 12, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) initiated 60 investigations under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 to assess whether the acts, policies, and practices of certain trading partners relating to forced labor import restrictions are unreasonable or discriminatory, and whether they burden or restrict U.S. commerce.
On June 2, 2026, the USTR announced significant findings and proposed trade actions following these investigations. Specifically, the USTR determined that all 60 investigated economies maintain practices that are actionable under Section 301.
USTR found that 54 countries have failed both to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import ban. This group includes major trading partners, among others, such as: