US 'forced labour' probe into 60 economies, seen as strategy to impose tariffs

THE US probe into 60 economies over alleged failures to ban the importation of goods produced with forced labour has been described as a strategy to impose tariffs on other countries and to return manufacturing to the world's leading economy.

- MANYANE MANYANE [e-mail]

This is after the US launched a Section 301 investigation into 60 economies, including South Africa, to determine if they are effectively preventing goods produced with forced labour from entering their markets. The probe was announced by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) earlier this week.

This investigation, according to the USTR, serves as a "Plan B" to rebuild trade pressure after the US Supreme Court struck down global tariffs previously imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPA).