In a press release published on March 12, 2026, The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it was initiating Section 301 investigations of 60 countries on forced labor. The countries being investigated are the 60 largest trading partners of the United States.
These investigations are to “determine whether acts, policies, and practices of each of these economies related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce.”
USTR is accepting written comments on these investigations until April 15, 2026. A hearing will be held for these investigations on April 28, 2026.
USTR’s press release can be found here:
https://ustr.gov/about/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2026/march/ustr-initiates-60-section-301-investigations-relating-failures-take-action-forced-labor
A pre-publication version of the Federal Register Notice can be found here:
https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Press/Releases/2026/FRN%20-%20Forced%20Labor%20Import%20Ban%20301%20-%20FINAL.pdf
Comments on these investigations can be submitted here:
https://comments.ustr.gov/s/
