New Section 301 Trade Probes Target 16 Economies: What Importers Need to Know

On March 11, 2026, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced two new trade investigations that could reshape the tariff landscape for importers by summer. The probes, conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, target 16 major trading partners for excess manufacturing capacity and unfair trade practices.

Which Countries Are Being Investigated?

The Section 301 excess-capacity probe covers China, the European Union, Mexico, Japan, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Switzerland, and Norway. Notably, Canada was excluded from this round of investigations.

A separate forced-labor investigation covers approximately 60 countries and could result in import bans on specific products found to involve forced labor in their supply chains.

Why This Matters After the Supreme Court Ruling

These investigations are a direct response to the Supreme Court's February 20 ruling that struck down Trump's IEEPA-based reciprocal tariffs as unconstitutional. Within hours of that ruling, the administration imposed a new 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 as a stopgap measure. The Section 301 probes represent the longer-term strategy to rebuild tariff pressure on a legally defensible foundation.

Unlike IEEPA tariffs, Section 301 tariffs have survived prior legal challenges. The Section 301 tariffs on China originally imposed in 2018-2019 were upheld by the Court of International Trade, giving the administration confidence in this legal pathway.

Sectors Most at Risk

USTR's official notice specifically cited the automotive sector, noting excess capacity in China and Japan. Electric vehicles are a primary focus -- Chinese EV maker BYD is aggressively expanding global manufacturing capacity while European automotive plants operate at only 55% capacity. Other sectors likely to be examined include:

• Steel and aluminum (building on existing Section 232 tariffs at 50%)
• Solar panels and clean energy equipment
• Semiconductors and electronics
• Textiles and apparel (particularly from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia)
• Machinery and industrial equipment (HTS Chapters 84-85)

Timeline and Process

Section 301 investigations follow a structured process: USTR will accept written comments, hold public hearings, and consult with affected trading partners before issuing findings. Based on past timelines, importers should expect:

• March-April 2026: Federal Register notice and comment period opens
• May-June 2026: Public hearings
• Summer 2026: USTR findings and proposed tariff actions
• Fall 2026: New tariffs could take effect

What Importers Should Do Now

With potential new tariffs on the horizon, importers should take several steps immediately:

1. Audit your HTS classifications. Ensure every product is correctly classified. Misclassification under heightened enforcement can trigger penalties. Use our landed cost calculator to model the impact of potential new duties.
2. Map your supply chain exposure. Identify which products originate from the 16 targeted countries. Products with multi-country supply chains may be affected at multiple points.
3. Model tariff scenarios. Use our AI-powered tariff lookup to check current rates and estimate the impact of potential Section 301 surcharges on your specific HTS codes.
4. Evaluate sourcing alternatives. Countries not included in the probe (Canada, most of Latin America outside Mexico) may offer tariff advantages. However, transshipment to avoid tariffs carries significant legal risk.
5. Monitor the Federal Register. USTR will publish detailed product lists and hearing schedules. Subscribe to our tariff alerts to stay updated.

The current tariff environment -- with Section 122 global tariffs at 10-15%, Section 232 steel/aluminum at 50%, and existing Section 301 tariffs on China -- already creates significant compliance complexity. These new investigations add another layer that importers cannot afford to ignore.