Washington-Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

The United States has launched a wide-ranging trade investigation encompassing sixty economies due to potential shortcomings in combating forced labor. The investigation aims to determine whether foreign governments are taking sufficient measures to prevent the importation of products manufactured with forced labor. According to media outlets in Brussels, including the Belgian newspaper Newsblad, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced that the investigation, known as Section 301, will focus on potential unfair trade practices. According to Trade Representative Jameson Greer, the investigation will determine whether countries are taking sufficient steps to prohibit the import of goods produced with forced labor, and how the failure to take such measures might affect American workers and businesses. © Reuters
The list of 60 countries under investigation includes major U.S. trading partners such as Australia, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. China and Russia are also included. This investigation comes after the Trump administration again attempted to exert trade pressure through tariffs, following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling against global tariffs. In a previous move on February 20, the administration imposed a temporary 10% tariff for 150 days.

The United States has already taken action against products from China's Xinjiang region under a law prohibiting the import of goods produced using forced labor. Washington accuses China of operating labor camps for Uighurs and other Muslim groups, an accusation Beijing denies.

According to Greer, the U.S. government hopes to complete its investigation and potential actions before the temporary tariffs expire in July.