Section 301 Investigations Concluded — What Comes Next?

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the legality of IEEPA based tariffs in February 2026, the Trump administration initiated Section 301 investigations into 60 countries under the Trade Act of 1974. Section 301 is the same trade authority used to impose the long standing “China Tariffs” first enacted in 2017. 

The purpose of these new investigations was to determine whether the targeted countries failed to prevent the importation of goods made with forced labor, and this negatively impacts US Commerce. Ambassador Jamison Greer stated “The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable.  This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field” 

 The investigations have now concluded, and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released its findings on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. 

USTR Findings and Proposed Actions 

According to the USTR, the countries under review failed or partially failed to adequately address the importation of goods produced with forced labor. As a result, the agency has proposed new tariffs on these countries. 

Key elements of the proposal include: 

•  A duty of 12.5% on imports from the listed countries. 
•  A 10% rate for countries that have partial forced labor bans. 
•  A special reduced textile rate for certain countries, reflecting sector specific considerations. 

These rates are proposed and may be modified by the Trump administration in the final executive order. 

Impact on Importers 

The list of affected countries includes several of the United States’ largest trading partners—among them Canada, Mexico, Australia, China, the European Union, the United Kingdom, India, Taiwan, and Vietnam. 

If implemented as proposed, the new tariffs could significantly affect supply chains, landed costs, and sourcing strategies across a wide range of industries. 

Next Steps in the Section 301 Process 

As required under Section 301 procedures: 

• Written comments from importers and other stakeholders are due by July 6, 2026. 
• Public hearings will be held on July 7, 2026. 
• Requests to appear at the hearings must be submitted by June 22, 2026. 

Importers should review the proposed measures carefully and consider submitting comments or participating in the hearings to ensure their concerns are represented. 

At Allyn International, we are committed to supporting the global trade community with strategic, forward-thinking solutions to help navigate today’s complex tariff landscape. If you have questions about tariffs or would like to explore strategies to reduce their impact on your business operations, our team is here to help. Contact us today for a consultation at sales@allynintl.com.