Trump admin launches probe into 60 countries over forced labor practices

The United States has opened up a probe into 60 different countries over failures to take action against forced labor under a Section 301 investigation. This comes as President Donald Trump has sought to increase tariff pressure on countries regarding trade after the Supreme Court struck down a portion of the president's tariffs in February.

“Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets. For too long, American workers and firms have been forced to compete against foreign producers who may have an artificial cost advantage gained from the scourge of forced labor,” said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

“These investigations will determine whether foreign governments have taken sufficient steps to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor and how the failure to eradicate these abhorrent practices impacts U.S. workers and businesses," he added.

The list of 60 countries includes a number of allies to the US, including Canada, Australia, the EU, India, Israel, Qatar, and others. Taiwan, another ally of the US, responded by saying that it is committed to improving labor rights laws as well as taking action to prevent forced labor.

The investigation "will determine whether those acts, policies, and practices are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce."

Greer said that he wants to see countries enforce bans on goods that are produced with forced labor camps. An example that the US has pointed to includes the forced labor camps that China has operated with ethnic Uyghur and other Muslim groups, per Reuters.

Greer hopes to conclude the investigations before Trump's temporary tariffs under Section 122 expire in July. The 15 percent tariffs set in motion by the president under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 only last for 150 days.