March 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced investigations Thursday into 60 economies to determine if they have failed to curb imports of goods made with forced labor.
The investigations are based on 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the United States to create tariffs on countries that have used unfair trade practices without congressional authorization. President Donald Trump used the law to add tariffs in his first term.
"Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets," Greer said in a statement.
"These investigations will determine whether foreign governments have taken sufficient steps to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor and how the failure to eradicate these abhorrent practices impacts U.S. workers and businesses," he said.
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