On 2 June 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the results of 60 Section 301 investigations examining whether trading partners have adequately prohibited and enforced restrictions on imports of goods produced with forced labour.
Following its investigations, USTR concluded that the failure of certain economies to effectively prevent the importation of forced-labour goods constitutes an unreasonable practice that burdens or restricts U.S. commerce. Based on these findings, USTR has proposed the imposition of additional tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on imports from the affected jurisdictions.
Under the proposal, economies that have implemented a forced-labour import prohibition, adopted partial enforcement measures, or made commitments through reciprocal trade agreements would generally face an additional 10% tariff. All other investigated economies would be subject to an additional 12.5% tariff. Public comments are due by 6 July 2026, with hearings scheduled for 7 July 2026.
This development is significant because it expands the use of Section 301 beyond its traditional focus on market access barriers, intellectual property concerns, subsidies, and technology transfer practices. Instead, the U.S. is seeking to leverage trade remedies as a tool to encourage stronger forced-labour enforcement globally.
For trade compliance professionals, the proposal signals growing convergence between customs enforcement, human rights due diligence, and trade policy. Companies should closely monitor developments, assess supply chain exposure across affected jurisdictions, and review forced-labour compliance programs to ensure they remain aligned with increasingly stringent regulatory expectations in key export markets.
Official source: the list of the countries can be obtained under the press release issued by U.S. Trade Representative (USTR):