India is among countries the US listed as it announced an investigation into 60 economies to see if they banned import of goods produced with forced labour.
The United States has initiated an investigation into 60 economies to assess what actions they took in imposing a ban on importing goods produced with forced labour. India is among the trading partners the US listed in its new directive.
PM Modi (R) and US President Donald Trump seen together. (REUTERS)
“Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said.
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The development comes a day after Greer announced the Trump administration's plans to launch a probe into 16 economies over their manufacturing practices, to determine whether they “burden or restrict” US commerce. India also made it to that list.
Not just India, countries like Pakistan, China, Russia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Venezuela and Cambodia are also part of the 60 countries under the US scanner for the investigation announced on imports and forced labour. Full list:
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Australia
The Bahamas
Cambodia
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Brazil
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
European Union
Guatemala
Guyana
Hondura
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Libya
Malaysia
Mexico
Morocco
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Peru
Philippines
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Türkiye
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
Why has the US launched this probe?
The investigation will be carried out under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, which pertains to unfair foreign practices affecting US businesses. This iis the same legislation under which the earlier probe into 16 economies over their manufacturing practices was announced.
Jameison Greer said that through this probe, the US authorities want to determine if countries took steps to stop the import of goods produced with forced labour and how the failure to do so impacted businesses in the US.
Greer said his department would hold hearings linked to the investigation in April.
Trump's tariff revival
The investigations come weeks after the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on various countries and are being seen as moves to revive the duties.
After the Supreme Court order, Trump had imposed a new 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act and these replacement levies are set to expire in July.
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“We had a little disappointing decision to put it mildly from the Supreme Court,” the president told US House Republicans during a speech on Monday. “The good news is I have lots of other ways of doing the same thing. I just have to work a little harder.”
According to a Reuters report, Greer hopes to conclude the Section 301 investigations, including proposed remedies, before Trump's temporary tariffs expire.
