The United States has launched a new round of trade investigations targeting 16 economies, including China and Mexico, as part of a renewed effort to address what the Trump administration describes as unfair global manufacturing practices.
The investigations were announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and are being conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
This law allows the U.S. government to impose tariffs or other trade penalties if foreign economic policies are found to harm American industries.
Officials say the probe will examine whether foreign manufacturers are producing more goods than their domestic markets can absorb and exporting the surplus to the United States.
According to the administration, such overcapacity can distort global pricing, suppress wages and discourage investment in American manufacturing.
The investigation includes the following economies:
China, the European Union, Mexico, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Japan and India.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the inquiry will examine whether policies such as state subsidies, government-backed enterprises or labor practices provide unfair advantages to foreign producers.
Mexico’s inclusion in the investigation is particularly sensitive because the country is the United States’ largest trading partner and part of the USMCA trade agreement.
Trade between the two nations reached approximately $872.83 billion in 2025, representing a 3.9% increase compared with the previous year.
The announcement also comes just days before the scheduled review of the USMCA agreement, potentially adding new tensions to regional trade relations.
China remains a central focus of the investigation. Washington has long accused Beijing of heavily subsidizing key industries, leading to global manufacturing surpluses that affect international markets.
Tariffs imposed under the previous Trump administration already cover hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese imports and remain largely in place.
The current investigation could lead to further tariff measures.
The probe follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that invalidated certain tariffs imposed under emergency economic powers. In response, the administration introduced temporary tariffs under Section 301 that may remain in place for up to 150 days.
Public comments on the investigation will open next week, with hearings expected to begin in early May. Authorities anticipate that the investigation could be completed within roughly five months.
