U.S. Launches New Trade Probe Into Major Partners After Tariff Setback

By Blessing Nweke

The United States has opened a sweeping new investigation into several of its largest trading partners following a court ruling that struck down a key element of tariffs introduced by Donald Trump last year.

On Wednesday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced a Section 301 investigation into what Washington describes as unfair trade practices by multiple economies. The probe targets major partners including China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea and Mexico.

If the investigation finds evidence of unfair trade practices, the U.S. could impose new import tariffs on goods from those countries as early as this summer. Greer said the administration hopes to complete the probe before temporary tariffs introduced by Trump in late February expire in July.

“The United States will no longer sacrifice its industrial base to other countries that may be exporting their problems with excess capacity and production to us,” Greer said in a statement announcing the inquiry.

The investigation also includes several fast-growing export economies such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Switzerland and Norway. Notably absent from the list is Canada, the United States’ second-largest trading partner.

The move follows a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States last month declaring Trump’s broad tariffs imposed in April of the previous year unlawful. In response, the president quickly introduced a new global tariff of 10%, criticizing the court’s decision and the justices behind it.

Trump later suggested the tariff could rise to 15%, though the initial levy that took effect remained at 10%. Administration officials have since indicated the higher rate could still be implemented.

The new investigation may give the White House a fresh legal pathway to reintroduce tariffs while maintaining pressure on trading partners.

The announcement also comes just ahead of planned trade talks in Paris between U.S. and Chinese officials, expected to prepare for a potential meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing later this month.