Trump administration launches massive trade investigations against 60 countries

The administration of President Donald Trump has launched a massive investigation into unfair trade practices, focusing on forced labor issues in around 60 countries. These actions, coordinated by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), are part of a broader strategy to rebuild tariff pressure on foreign partners. Simultaneously, Jamieson Greer, heading the USTR, is conducting an investigation under Section 301 concerning excessive production capacity among 16 key trading partners. Washington's decision to strike so broadly at global supply chains has caused immediate concern in international markets and among U.S. allies. Donald Trump's trade policy since his first term in 2017–2021 has been based on the aggressive use of tariffs as a negotiating tool, particularly against China. At that time, Section 301 investigations led to tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods. The current offensive, covering as many as 60 countries, is geographically much broader than actions taken by the U.S. administration in previous years. Reactions to the new U.S. tariff offensive are decidedly negative, with the first trading partners already taking retaliatory steps or suspending existing cooperation. India has decided to suspend talks on a bilateral trade agreement, citing the start of new U.S. investigations as justification. China, in turn, sharply criticized Washington's actions ahead of planned diplomatic talks in Paris, describing them as striking at global trade stability. The European Union, represented by its leaders, has called on the United States to respect existing trade agreements and avoid unilateral actions that could lead to an escalation of disputes. 60 (countries) — number of countries covered by the forced labor investigation New trade data for January 2026 sheds light on the reasons for the Trump administration's tougher course, pointing to growing imbalances in goods exchange. Vietnam recorded the world's largest trade surplus with the United States during this period, placing the country at the center of attention for U.S. officials. At the same time, the U.S. customs agency reported technical challenges regarding the implementation of new regulations and fiscal mechanisms. Official communications indicate that the system responsible for tariff refunds is currently only completed to a range of 40 to 80 percent, which could complicate the settlement process for U.S. importers. U.S. trade offensive in March 2026: March 12 — Announcement of investigations; March 13 — Reaction from India and China; March 13 — EU appeal