US trade probes could lead to new tariffs for EU, China

"These investigations will focus on economies that we have evidence appear to exhibit structural excess capacity and production in various manufacturing sectors. We need to protect American jobs, and we need to make sure we have fair trade with our trading partners."

"The probes will look into excess industrial capacity and imports made with forced labor. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the probe under Section 301 of the Trade Act would examine structural overcapacity in economies, including the European Union, China, India, Japan, South Korea and Mexico, among others."

"The US will launch another Section 301 investigation into goods produced with forced labor, covering more than 60 countries. The probe could lead to broader import bans similar to existing restrictions on products from China's Xinjiang region."

The United States initiated two new trade investigations following the Supreme Court's decision to restrict Trump's global tariff program. The first investigation examines structural overcapacity in manufacturing sectors across major economies including the EU, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer specifically criticized the EU for failing to meet bilateral trade agreement commitments and highlighted excess capacity in sectors like automobiles and semiconductors. The second investigation targets goods produced with forced labor across more than 60 countries, potentially resulting in import bans similar to existing restrictions on Xinjiang products. These investigations could yield new tariffs by summer. Canada was excluded from the overcapacity probe.

Read at www.dw.com