By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa is among 60 countries (including UK, China, Singapore, Switzerland, Russia, Brazil, EU) being investigated by the Office of the U.S. Trade Rep in relation to the importation of goods produced by forced labour.
The investigation is done under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, it allows the U.S. to levy tariffs for unfair trade without sign-off from Congress.
“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,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement.
Greer said he wanted other countries to enforce bans on goods produced with forced labor similar to those enshrined in a nearly century-old trade law.
He said, he hoped to conclude the Section 301 investigations, including proposed remedies, before temporary tariffs expire in July 2026.
Trump imposed a 10% tariff for 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 after the Supreme Court’s ruling, saying he had exceeded his authority in tapping emergency economic powers to impose them virtually on all countries.
The latest move also comes ahead of an expected meeting between US president Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing next month.