Trump Administration Launches New Trade Investigations to Address Unfair Practices

On March 11, 2026, the Trump administration announced the initiation of new trade investigations targeting unfair trading practices by 16 major trading partners, including China, Mexico, and the European Union. This move aims to replace tariffs recently deemed illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court, which had previously formed the backbone of President Donald Trump's trade policy. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that these investigations will be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the U.S. to impose tariffs on countries found to engage in unfair trade practices.

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The investigations will specifically examine "excess capacity" in manufacturing sectors of the targeted countries, which the administration claims has led to overproduction and significant trade deficits for the U.S. Greer noted that the investigations would assess structural excess capacity and production practices that are not aligned with market demand. The countries under scrutiny include Japan, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Thailand, in addition to the previously mentioned nations.

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The new probes are seen as a strategy to rebuild tariff pressure on trading partners and to ensure compliance with trade agreements previously negotiated to reduce tariffs. Greer emphasized that the investigations would likely lead to new tariffs against the identified countries by summer 2026. He also indicated that the administration plans to initiate another investigation targeting over 60 countries regarding laws against the import of goods produced with forced labor.

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The announcement of these investigations has raised concerns among foreign governments, which have spent months negotiating concessions to reduce prior tariffs. Critics argue that the renewed focus on tariffs could exacerbate tensions and hinder ongoing trade negotiations. Greer acknowledged that the announcement should not come as a surprise to the affected countries, as the administration had signaled its intentions in advance.

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Greer stated, "The president's trade policy remains the same: protect American jobs and ensure fair trade with our trading partners." He further noted that the investigations would focus on evidence of structural excess capacity and production practices that contribute to trade surpluses. The administration aims to conclude these investigations and propose remedies before temporary tariffs imposed in February expire in July.

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As the investigations progress, the Trump administration is expected to maintain pressure on trading partners to comply with U.S. trade standards. Greer indicated that the administration has various tools at its disposal to address unfair trading practices and reduce the trade deficit. The outcomes of these investigations could significantly shape U.S. trade policy and relations with key global economies in the coming months.

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• “Protect American jobs and to make sure we have fair trade with our trading partners,” — Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative

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• “So these investigations will focus on economies that we have evidence appear to exhibit structural excess capacity and production in various manufacturing sectors, such as through larger persistent trade surpluses or underutilized or unused capacity,” — Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative

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• “We have a lot of tools to do it," Greer said.” — Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative

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