New Delhi: The United States has announced a trade investigation against several major trading partners, including India, China, Japan and the European Union, to identify trade practices that may be harming the U.S. manufacturing sector.
The move comes shortly after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned retaliatory tariffs previously imposed by Washington on several countries, including India. The next step was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The investigation will be conducted under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act, which allows the United States to impose tariffs or import restrictions if a country is found to be engaging in unfair trade practices.
Apart from India, China, Japan and the European Union, the probe will also cover several other trading partners, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
According to officials, the investigation will focus on key industrial sectors such as steel, aluminium, automobiles, batteries, electronics, chemicals, machinery, semiconductors and solar modules.
The probe is expected to determine whether these countries’ trade policies negatively affect U.S. manufacturing and whether Washington should impose tariffs or other restrictions in response.
