The government under US President Donald Trump has… recent legal setbacks in its customs policy a new trading investigation has been launched, which leads to new customs duties could lead in summer. As US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced, the investigation is intended to clarify whether structural overcapacity in the manufacturing sectors of trading partners leads to disadvantages for the US economy.
Next to the EU Switzerland, Norway, China, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, India and other Asian countries are also checked – but not Canada. Public hearings on the review are scheduled to take place in May. The governments of the affected countries are also being consulted. The investigation is based on a passage from a 1974 trade law that the USA had used in the past to impose tariffs on China.
There will also be a further investigation into alleged forced labor affecting more than 60 countries. According to Greer, the studies focus on economies with structural overcapacity in various manufacturing sectors, such as large trade surpluses or unused capacity.
Trump imposed tariffs bypassing Parliament
With the announced investigations, the US government is building new pressure on tariffs. The Supreme Court last month had the Imposition of certain tariffs declared illegal by decree. Since the start of his second term in office in January 2025, the US President has imposed import fees on imports bypassing Parliament.
After the Supreme Court ruling resigned Trump indicated that it wanted to use other instruments to enforce its customs policy. He also issued one worldwide tariff of ten percent for exports to the United States.