The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is holding public hearings this week in Washington on its Section 301 investigations—launched in March into South Korea, China, Japan, the European Union and 13 others—over structural excess capacity in manufacturing. The hearings could lead to tariffs or other measures. A South Korean official presented Seoul's position on the opening day.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is conducting public hearings Tuesday through Friday at the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington on its Section 301 investigations into 16 economies, including South Korea, China, India, Japan, the European Union, and others, regarding "structural" excess capacity and unfair practices in manufacturing sectors.
Announced by USTR Jamieson Greer on March 12 under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, the probes target subsidies, suppressed wages, state-owned enterprises, and other distortions following a Supreme Court ruling invalidating prior reciprocal tariffs. Potential outcomes include new tariffs or measures.
On the first day, a South Korean official explained Seoul's stance, emphasizing its market-economy principles and proactive restructuring in affected sectors like petrochemicals and steel amid global excess capacity. South Korea, facing a large U.S. trade surplus, had pledged consultations post-launch.
Last month, the USTR held hearings on separate Section 301 probes into 60 economies, including some overlapping countries, on forced labor import bans.
