The Donald Trump administration, seeking new tariffs to replace reciprocal tariffs that were struck down, has launched a Section 301 investigation and will hold public hearings with major trading partners including South Korea.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a statement on May 4 (local time) that it will hold hearings May 5-8 at the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington on economic policies and trade practices related to overcapacity involving 16 countries, including South Korea and China.
On May 5, Lee Seung-heon, director of the Americas Trade Division at South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is expected to appear on a panel to explain Seoul’s position.
In an official written submission to USTR on April 16 tied to the Section 301 probe, the South Korean government said it is pursuing voluntary, preemptive restructuring efforts in sectors facing global overcapacity, including petrochemicals and steel. On forced labor, it said it is working to eradicate the practice based on International Labour Organization conventions.
The hearings follow USTR’s launch in March of a Section 301 investigation into overcapacity-related practices covering 16 countries, including South Korea, China and Japan. Separately, USTR has opened a Section 301 investigation into forced labor involving about 60 countries, including South Korea and Japan.
Section 301 authorizes the United States to take action against foreign policies and practices deemed unfair and affecting U.S. trade. After the U.S. Supreme Court in February invalidated reciprocal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trump administration imposed a new 10% global tariff under Section 122 and has been exploring additional tariffs under Section 301.
USTR is expected to complete the Section 301 investigation by July 24 and then impose tariffs based on the findings.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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