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Factbox-The 16 US trading partners hit by trump's '301' probes
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 11, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 11, 2026
Quick Summary
On March 11, 2026, the U.S. launched Section 301 investigations into 16 key trading partners—most running goods surpluses with the U.S.—as it seeks to reinstate recently struck-down tariffs under the Trump administration’s action.
US Launches Section 301 Probes Into 16 Major Trading Partners for Unfair Trade
Overview of Section 301 Investigations and Targeted Countries
March 11 (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday said it was launching unfair trade practice investigations into 16 key trading partners, part of an urgent effort by President Donald Trump's administration to restore tariffs recently struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as illegal.
The probes are being conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which empowers the U.S. Trade Representative to impose tariffs or other retaliatory measures against trading partners determined to employ unfair trade practices.
The administration alleges the 16 all employ policies that disadvantage U.S. goods producers, resulting in all but one of them running substantial goods trade surpluses with the U.S.
Details of the Section 301 Probes
Countries Under Investigation
Here are the 16 subject to the investigation:
Trade Surplus/Deficit Data
Country/Area Goods trade Goods trade Change
surplus/defici surplus/defici ($ mln)
t t 2024 ($ mln)
2025 ($ mln)
European Union 218,750 235,874 -17,124
China 202,071 295,515 -93,444
Mexico 196,913 171,491 25,422
Vietnam 178,183 123,457 54,726
Taiwan 146,756 73,718 73,038
Thailand 71,856 45,492 26,364
Japan 63,883 69,392 -5,509
India 58,216 45,801 12,415
Korea, South 56,416 65,967 -9,551
Switzerland 34,304 38,283 -3,979
Malaysia 30,791 24,854 5,937
Indonesia 23,716 17,893 5,823
Cambodia 14,928 12,327 2,601
Bangladesh 7,146 6,063 1,083
Norway 2,069 2,043 26
Singapore -3,553 -1,855 -1,698
Source: U.S. Census Bureau trade data
Reporting and Editorial Notes
(Reporting by Dan Burns in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Key Takeaways
- •Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 empowers the U.S. Trade Representative to impose tariffs or retaliatory measures in response to unfair foreign trade practices. (congress.gov)
- •This move follows a Supreme Court ruling invalidating certain Trump-era emergency tariffs, prompting the administration to pursue legally defensible trade enforcement tools. (mwe.com)
- •Historically, Section 301 tariffs—particularly those on China—have reduced imports and increased domestic production and prices in several sectors, influencing trade balances and prompting legal and political debate. (usitc.gov)
References
- Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
- The Supreme Court’s decision on IEEPA tariffs: What the court decided and what it means for importers
- Certain Effects of Section 232 and 301 Tariffs Reduced Imports and Increased Prices and Production in Many U.S. Industries | United States International Trade Commission
Frequently Asked Questions about Factbox-The 16 US trading partners hit by Trump's '301' probes
1What is a Section 301 investigation?
A Section 301 investigation, under the Trade Act of 1974, allows the US to impose tariffs or other measures against trading partners engaged in unfair trade practices.
2How many US trading partners are being investigated?
Sixteen trading partners are subject to the current Section 301 unfair trade practice investigations announced by the US.
3Which countries are named in the current Section 301 probes?
Some of the countries under investigation include the European Union, China, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, and Japan.
4What is the purpose of these Section 301 investigations?
The purpose is to address policies that allegedly disadvantage US goods producers and restore tariffs previously struck down by the US Supreme Court.
5Which branch of the US government conducts Section 301 investigations?
The US Trade Representative (USTR) conducts Section 301 investigations.