Trump Administration Announces New Section 301 Trade Investigations, Potential Tariffs Could Follow
Last week, the Trump Administration announced dozens of investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, citing unfair or discriminatory trade practices by U.S. trading partners.
New 301 Investigations
These investigations cover most major trading partners and address areas of concern such as industrial excess capacity and forced labor concerns. The new Section 301 investigations would cover more than 70 countries, including the industry’s top trading partners.
U.S. Trade Ambassador Greer has indicated that the administration intends to conduct these investigations on an “accelerated timeframe” – which could result in new tariffs just as the Section 122 tariffs expire in July.
Below is a summary of the recently announced Section 301 investigations:
· March 11: Investigation Relating to Structural Excess Capacity and Production in Manufacturing Sectors
The investigations will determine whether those acts, policies, and practices are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce.
- Countries subject to investigation: China, the European Union, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan, and India.
- Comments are due April 15, and public hearings will begin on May 5.
- Federal Register Notice
The investigation will determine whether acts, policies, and practices of each of these economies related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce.
- 60 countries subject to investigation.
- Comments are due April 15, and public hearings begin on April 28.
- Federal Register Notice
As a reminder, many of the Section 301 tariffs placed on imports from China beginning in 2018, including many marine products, remain in place and are likely to be expanded and increased.
To support potential NMMA comments and testimony highlighting the potential impact additional tariffs could have on the U.S. marine industry, please contact NMMA’s Clay Crabtree, Senior Director of Public Policy, at [email protected].