US widens Section 301 push, launching forced-labor probes across about 60 economies

The United States opened new Section 301(b) trade probes into roughly 60 economies to assess whether governments failed to curb imports of goods made with forced labor. Targets include China, the European Union, India and Mexico, along with a broad list that also covers Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Findings could justify tariffs without congressional approval, signaling a renewed push on global trade practices amid ongoing U.S. trade-policy actions and ahead of high-level talks with China.