The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a Notice of Determination and Request for Comments, finding that certain of Brazil’s acts, policies, and practices are actionable under Sections 301(b) and 304(a) of the Trade Act of 1974. If adopted as proposed, USTR would impose additional tariffs of 25% on Brazilian-origin goods
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
USTR Proposes Sweeping Tariffs as Part of Section 301 Forced Labor Import Enforcement Investigation
On June 2, 2026, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced a landmark set of enforcement actions under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, targeting 60 economies worldwide for failing to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor. This is one of the most sweeping forced labor-related trade enforcement actions in U.S.
USTR Proposes Actions, Requests Comments on China’s Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors
On February 21, 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced its proposed actions following the Section 301 investigation of China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance.
The Section 301 investigation was initiated on April 17, 2024. Following the investigation, USTR determined that China’s targeting of the maritime…
USTR Launches Section 301 Investigation of Nicaragua’s Labor and Human Rights Practices
On December 10, 2024, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) initiated an investigation of Nicaragua’s acts, policies, and practices related to labor rights, human rights, and the rule of law. The investigation will be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. This is the first investigation that USTR has…
USTR Postpones Implementation of New Section 301 Tariffs
On July 30, 2024, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the increased Section 301 tariffs proposed on May 28, 2024, would not go into effect as planned on August 1, 2024.
USTR is still reviewing the 1,100 public comments it received. It now expects its final determination will be issued sometime in…
USTR Extends Section 301 Tariff Exclusions, Set to Open Up Public Docket for Comment
As the four-year review of Section 301 duties continues, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) stated last week that the Biden administration will be extending tariff exclusions through May 31, 2024. These exclusions, listed in the USTR’s index, were set to expire on December 31, 2023, but the administration chose to extend…
Nearly 1500 Responses Submitted to USTR as Part of the Section 301 Four Year Review Process – Is Relief on the Way?
This Tuesday, January 17, marked the close for the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR’s) comment period for its statutory 4-year review of tariffs imposed on Chinese goods under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. To-date, the Biden Administration has retained Section 301 tariffs on over $300 billion worth of imports…
USTR extends COVID-related Section 301 tariff exclusions for 81 medical care products
On Wednesday, November 23, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) extended exclusions from Section 301 tariffs for 81 medical care products from China for a sixth time. The tariff exclusions for these products were initially granted in December 2020 and had been extended multiple times throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The tariff exclusions for…
Large Civil Aircraft Dispute 2021 Update: Section 301 Tariffs on New EU Goods
In response to recent action by the European Union in the Large Civil Aircraft (Boeing-Airbus) Dispute in the World Trade Organization (“WTO”), the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) has announced the inclusion of additional products to the list of EU goods subject to Section 301 tariffs.
Section 301 tariffs will apply to specified additional products…
USTR Launches 301 Investigations into Digital Services Taxes
Opens Door for Potential Retaliatory Tariffs by United States
On June 2, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) launched a series of Section 301 trade investigations into digital services taxes (DST) adopted or under consideration by a number of United States (U.S.) trading partners – including Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the European…