Notice of Determinations and Request for Comments Concerning Actions in Section 301 Investigations of Acts, Policies, and Practices of Various Economies Related to the Failure To Impose and Effectively Enforce a Prohibition on the Importation of Goods Produced With Forced Labor
Key claim: USTR determined under Section 301 that 60 economies failed to impose or effectively enforce forced-labor import prohibitions and proposes additional duties of 10% or 12.5% on all their products (with a textile mechanism), seeking public comments on the proposed actions.
Abstract
(Notice · Trade Representative, Office of United States) On March 12, 2026, the United States Trade Representative (Trade Representative) initiated 60 investigations related to the failure of various economies to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor. The Trade Representative has determined that 54 of the investigated economies have failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition. The Trade Representative has determined that six of the investigated economies have failed to effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition. The Trade Representative has determined that the failure of each of the investigated economies to impose and effectively enforce a force labor import prohibition is unreasonable and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce. As a result of the findings in each investigation, the Trade Representative proposes that appropriate action includes additional duties on all products of the investigated economies, except as provided in Annex A to this Notice. For economies that impose a forced labor import prohibition; have taken on commitments related to forced labor import prohibitions through an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade; or have imposed a partial regime with the effect of preventing the importation of certain forced labor goods, the Trade Representative proposes 10% as the rate of additional duties. For all other economies, the Trade Representative proposes 12.5% as the rate of additional duties. The Trade Representative also proposes a textile mechanism that would allow for a certain volume of apparel and textile imports from certain economies to enter the United States at a reduced Section 301 tariff rate. USTR seeks public comments on the proposed actions in the investigations and will hold public hearings in connection with the proposals.
Why this matters
A multi-country Section 301 action covering 60 economies with across-the-board 10–12.5% additional duties would be one of the broadest tariff regimes ever proposed under this authority, materially reshaping U.S. import cost structures across sectors. For pharmaceutical and medical supply chains — including API and finished-dose inputs sourced from affected jurisdictions — the proposed duties could compound with other Section 301 layers already in place.