USTR Proposes Actions Against 60 Economies for Trade in Goods Produced with Forced Labor

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced findings under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 regarding 60 economies that have failed to effectively enforce prohibitions on the importation of goods produced with forced labor. The USTR's report states that these practices are unreasonable and restrict U.S. commerce. Ambassador Jamieson Greer emphasized the need for trading partners to take more action against forced labor in trade. The USTR has proposed additional duties on products from these economies, with a 10% duty for those that have made commitments to enforce prohibitions and a 12.5% duty for others. A textile mechanism allowing reduced tariff rates for certain apparel and textile imports is also proposed. Public hearings are scheduled for July 7, 2026, and comments are due by July 6, 2026. The USTR's investigations were initiated on March 12, 2026, and included testimony from nearly 60 witnesses and 500 comments. The report identifies 54 economies that have failed to impose prohibitions and six that have failed to enforce them effectively.