The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced on the 20th (local time) that it plans to launch new investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act targeting most major trading partners.
On this day, USTR Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement issued in his name, "We will initiate several investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act to address the unreasonable, irrational, discriminatory, and burdensome acts, policies, and practices of many of our trading partners."
Section 301 of the Trade Act authorizes the United States to impose tariffs in response to unfair trade, policies, and practices by foreign governments that are deemed to harm U.S. companies. The USTR must conduct a prior investigation, and there is no cap on the tariff rate.
Representative Greer explained, "We expect these investigations to cover most major trading partners," adding that they will address concerns such as discrimination against U.S. companies and digital products, industrial overcapacity, forced labor, and pharmaceutical pricing practices.
He added, "If the investigations confirm unfair trade practices and we determine that responsive measures are justified, tariffs are one of the options that can be imposed."
This announcement came immediately after President Trump signed an executive order, based on Section 122 of the Trade Act, imposing a 10% tariff on all countries worldwide, following the Supreme Court's ruling that reciprocal tariffs are unlawful.
Representative Greer also said that, despite the Supreme Court's ruling that reciprocal tariffs are unlawful, "I am confident that all trade agreements negotiated by President Donald Trump will remain in place as they are."
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