US probes Philippines, 59 other economies over forced labor

WASHINGTON - The US Trade Representative's office said late on Thursday it had begun a second set of Section 301 unfair trade practices probes of 60 economies, including the Philippines, in relation to what it called failures to take action on forced labor.

President Donald Trump's administration has sought to rebuild tariff pressure on countries around the world after the US Supreme Court struck down his global tariffs as illegal on February 20.

"These investigations will determine whether foreign governments have taken sufficient steps to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor and how the failure to eradicate these abhorrent practices impacts US workers and businesses," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement.

The list of 60 countries and economies includes some major US trade partners and allies such as Australia, Canada, the EU, Britain, Israel, India, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. China and Russia are also on the list.

The European Commission said it shared US concerns about forced labor and was fully committed to eradicating it from global supply chains. It also pointed to a law, which will enter into force in December 2027, prohibiting the sale in the EU market of forced labor products, as well as to the EU-US trade deal of last year in which both sides agreed to work together to protect labor rights.

"Therefore, it is the firmly held view of the European Commission that the European Union cannot in any serious analysis be considered as contributing to this global problem," it said.

A UK Department of Business and Trade spokesperson said Britain would engage with the US administration and make clear actions it was taking to tackle forced labor at home and in global supply chains to ensure that British businesses were not complicit.

The government in Taiwan, which is listed too, said in a statement that it is committed to improving labor rights and preventing forced labor, and will work with the US to emphasize human rights, resilience, and sustainable governance.

Trump imposed a 10% tariff for 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 after the Supreme Court's ruling. On Wednesday, his administration said it was launching unfair trade investigations into excess industrial capacity in 16 major trading partners.

The US has already cracked down on solar panels and other goods from China's Xinjiang region under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, signed into law by former President Joe Biden.

Greer said he wanted other countries to enforce bans on goods produced with forced labor similar to those enshrined in a nearly century-old trade law.

The US alleges that Chinese authorities have established labor camps for ethnic Uyghur and other Muslim groups. Beijing denies allegations of abuse.

Greer said he hoped to conclude the Section 301 investigations, including proposed remedies, before Trump's temporary tariffs expire in July. — Reuters/GMA Integrated News