U.S. launches fresh Section 301 probes into 60 economies over forced-labor trade practices

The U.S. on Thursday stateside announced new trade investigations into 60 economies over what it termed as probes aimed at determining if these economies failed to curb imports of goods produced with forced labor.

The probes, conducted under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, include China, the European Union, India and Mexico, according to a statement from the United States Trade Representative.

“Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said.

“These investigations will determine whether foreign governments have taken sufficient steps to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor and how the failure to eradicate these abhorrent practices impacts U.S. workers and businesses,” he said.

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