Latest Section 301 News & Updates

Washington, March 13 (IANS) The United States has launched investigations into 60 economies, including the European Union, India, Japan, and China, to determine whether their failure to ban imports made with forced labour unfairly harms American workers and businesses.The sweeping probe was initiated by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Thursday under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 and targets some of Washington’s largest trading partners.The investigation…

Washington, March 12 (IANS) The United States has launched a sweeping trade investigation targeting India and 15 other economies over alleged excess industrial capacity in manufacturing sectors, a move that could eventually lead to tariffs or other trade measures. The probe, announced by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday (local time), will examine whether policies in the listed economies unfairly boost production and exports and restrict US commerce.Speaking on a press call, Gr…

Washington, March 7 (IANS) A US government agency is working on a new system to simplify the tariff refund process that could be ready in 45 days, a report said, as many companies seek refunds of the Trump administration’s emergency duties that the Supreme Court struck down last month.Brandon Lord, executive director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s trade policy and programs directorate, unveiled the work on a streamlined process requiring “minimal submission” from importers, in a f…

Seoul, Feb 23 (IANS) South Korea will continue holding “amicable” consultations with the United States on tariff issues to safeguard the favourable export conditions secured through its bilateral trade deal with the US, Seoul’s industry minister said on Monday.Kim Jung-kwan, minister of trade, industry and resources, also vowed continued support for local businesses to boost their global competitiveness amid trade uncertainties, reports Yonhap news agency.”Under the principle of maximising natio…

Washington, Feb 23 (IANS) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the Trump administration has “very durable tools” to keep its tariff-driven trade strategy intact after the Supreme Court struck down most of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, insisting the White House is now focused on “continuity” as it shifts to other legal authorities and investigations. In an interview to a top US media portal on Sunday, Greer said the Trump administration had prepared “backup plans” in case the …

New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) The tariffs collected from various jurisdictions by the US administration range from $160-175 billion (Chinese companies have paid the highest likely), and the refund could be a ‘mess’ but it would also be a psychological deterrent in imposition of future tariff structure, according to a new SBI Research report.US President Donald Trump has now raised global tariffs to 15 per cent, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a move that escalates his trade offensi…

Washington, Feb 22 (IANS) US President Donald Trump raised a newly imposed global tariff to 15 per cent, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 as reported by The Wall Street Journal, a move that escalates his trade offensive a day after the US Supreme Court struck down much of his earlier tariff regime.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the increase followed “a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Ta…

New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS) As US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs, analysts said on Saturday that roughly 55 per cent of India’s exports to the US is likely to be subjected to Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariffs, instead of 18 per cent duties (which have now been lowered to 10 per cent).MFN tariffs are the base rates the US applies to all World Trade Organisation (WTO) members and the average US MFN tariff on …

Washington, Feb 21 (IANS) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the Trump administration will continue to execute the President’s trade agenda despite the Supreme Court’s ruling limiting the use of emergency tariff powers, stressing that alternative legal tools are already being deployed.Speaking to Fox News, Greer said the administration’s approach remains intact even if the statutory pathway shifts.“Simultaneously, the office of the US Trade Representative will initiate a nu…

Washington, Feb 21 (IANS) US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made clear that tariffs will remain a central tool of President Donald Trump’s economic strategy, even after a Supreme Court ruling limited the administration’s use of one legal authority to impose them.Speaking at the Economic Club of Dallas, Bessent addressed the court’s decision directly. “Six Justices simply ruled that IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) authorities cannot be used to raise even one dollar o…