US launches forced labor probes against 60 economies as Vietnam overtakes China in trade surplus

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has launched investigations under Section 301 against 60 economies over suspected use of forced labor. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced that the proceedings aim to verify whether the governments of these countries have taken sufficient steps to implement and enforce bans on importing goods produced using forced labor. The list of entities under investigation includes not only China and Russia but also key Washington allies, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Israel, and India. These actions are interpreted as an attempt to rebuild tariff pressure by the administration following a February 20, 2026, US Supreme Court ruling that deemed previous global tariffs illegal. Section 301 was a key tool of trade policy during Donald Trump's first administration, used, among other things, to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese goods worth hundreds of billions of dollars. The current investigations expand this mechanism to human rights and labor standards issues, which could lead to the introduction of new trade barriers on an unprecedented scale. The European Union has already called on Washington to comply with existing international agreements.

Parallel to the new investigations, the latest trade data for January 2026 indicates significant reshuffling in global supply chains. Vietnam generated the world's largest trade surplus in relations with the US, surpassing previous leaders—China and Mexico—in this regard. This situation occurs despite existing tariffs and Vietnam's dynamic economic growth, which recently reached 8 percent. Simultaneously, the US customs agency reported that the IT system for processing refunds of tariffs collected under provisions deemed illegal by the court is 40 to 80 percent complete. 60 (countries) — number of economies covered by the new USTR investigation Status of tariff refund system: Minimum completion level: 40, Maximum completion level: 80

In the area of bilateral and regional relations, US officials continue talks with key economic partners. US Vice President JD Vance, during a meeting with representatives from Seoul, expressed support for a new South Korean investment bill aimed at tightening technological and industrial cooperation between the two countries. Meanwhile, the governments of Canada and Mexico issued a joint statement emphasizing the fundamental importance of the trilateral USMCA agreement for continental stability. This declaration comes ahead of the mandatory review of this agreement planned for 2026, which could become a field for renegotiating key trade provisions. „These investigations are intended to ensure that our trading partners are held to the same standards as the United States in eliminating forced labor from global supply chains” — Jamieson Greer via Reuters

Key events in US trade policy 2026: January 13 — Vietnam's record surplus; February 5 — Increase in imports from China to Vietnam; February 20 — Supreme Court ruling; March 12 — Launch of investigations Changes in trade surplus with the US (January 2026): Surplus leader: China / Mexico → Vietnam; Legal basis for tariffs: Global tariffs (repealed) → Section 301 (investigations)