Trump administration launches new trade offensive: 16 countries under scrutiny

The administration of US President Donald Trump has launched new investigations into unfair trade practices and forced labor, targeting 16 trade partners, including the European Union, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. The investigations, conducted under Section 301, aim to counter excess production capacity among key allies and rivals of Washington. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated that these proceedings could lead to the imposition of new tariffs, intended to restore tariff pressure after the US Supreme Court ruling on February 20, 2026, which overturned some of Donald Trump's earlier tariffs. According to media reports, tariff rates for some countries could rise to 15% or higher from the recently imposed 10%.

The European Union's reaction to Washington's actions is firm, with community representatives calling for adherence to previous agreements. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, appealed to the US administration to honor the EU-US trade deal concluded in Turnberry in July 2025. Brussels argues that the United States should view the Union as an ally in solving the problem of global production surpluses, not as a source of the problem. „U.S. must honour EU-US deal in tariff investigations” — Bernd Lange via Reuters

Despite the overall increase in trade tensions, some countries and sectors are noting benefits or taking preemptive actions. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Washington has decided to lower anti-dumping duties for Italian pasta producers, which was welcomed as a diplomatic success for Rome. Simultaneously, the South Korean parliament approved a $350 billion investment bill in the US, interpreted as an attempt to ease trade disputes through direct support for the American economy. US trade relations with key partners entered a turbulent phase following Donald Trump's return to the White House and his America First policy. The Supreme Court ruling in February 2026, which deemed part of the tariffs unlawful, forced the administration to seek new legal grounds for protectionist policy. The system for refunding tariffs to firms that overpaid import taxes has become a logistical challenge for US customs services.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency is currently grappling with the process of paying out compensation following the Supreme Court ruling, which is happening concurrently with the imposition of new burdens. According to official statements, the tariff refund system is between 40% and 80% complete, indicating significant delays in processing importer claims. This situation creates uncertainty in international markets, where companies must balance the prospect of recovering funds with the risk of their goods being subject to new Section 301 investigations. 350 (miliardów dolarów) — value of South Korea's investment package in the US Trade dispute escalation 2026: July 2025 — Turnberry Agreement; February 20, 2026 — Supreme Court Ruling; March 11, 2026 — New Investigations; March 12, 2026 — Seoul's Response