Actions by the United States in the Investigations Under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 of the Acts, Policies, and Practices of 60 Economies Related to the Failure of Each Economy To Impose and Effectively Enforce a Prohibition on the Importation of Goods Produced With Forced Labor

This is a U.S. trade action under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Section 301 is a legal authority used to address certain unreasonable, discriminatory, or burdensome acts, policies, or practices of another economy that affect U.S. commerce. Here, the subject is whether an economy adequately prohibits and enforces restrictions against goods made with forced labor. The official measure may describe findings, actions, exclusions, or other requirements; its exact effect must be read in the applicable notice and tariff data.

It typically matters to importers, manufacturers, exporters, and supply-chain intermediaries whose goods are connected to the named economies or to production involving forced labor. Depending on the measure and the product’s classification, an affected shipment may face additional customs treatment, an import restriction, or enforcement risk. The importer of record remains responsible for accurate entry information and for exercising reasonable care, including checking the product’s country of origin, tariff classification, supply chain, and any applicable forced-labor programs or agency guidance.

What to check

• Read the official measure and its scope carefully, including the covered economies, products, HTSUS subheadings, rules of origin, and any stated exclusions or exceptions.
• Confirm the product’s correct Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States classification (HTSUS), rather than relying only on a supplier’s code or product description.
• Map the supply chain and retain records showing the manufacturer, production locations, raw materials, labor practices, and country of origin; obtain supporting documents from suppliers.
• Check whether the shipment is subject to separate forced-labor import controls, such as a Withhold Release Order or finding, and review current U.S. Customs and Border Protection instructions.
• Ask a customs broker or trade counsel to review uncertain classification, origin, scope, or admissibility issues before importing; do not assume that a Section 301 label alone determines the result.