The Trump administration has initiated a global investigation targeting China, the European Union, and several other countries in an effort to reinstate import tariffs that were recently invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision last month to overturn President Donald Trump’s global tariffs, the White House has activated a “Plan B” to recover lost tariff revenue. On March 11, 2026, U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer announced the commencement of an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act. This move serves as a strategic alternative to previous measures deemed unlawful by the court.
Unlike emergency legislation, Section 301 is considered more legally robust. It empowers the president to impose tariffs unilaterally if it can be demonstrated that trading partners engage in unfair practices, such as maintaining excessive production capacities.
The broad scope of these investigations indicates the U.S. intends to re-establish a “tariff wall” across much of its external trade. The countries under scrutiny include:
- Major Partners: China, the European Union, Mexico, India, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
- Other Economies: Switzerland, Norway, Southeast Asian nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam), and Bangladesh.
Greer emphasized that key U.S. trading partners have developed capacities that do not align with actual market demand, prompting Washington’s intervention.
The White House is acting swiftly to prevent a loss of tariff income, which Trump has frequently touted as a significant achievement. Upcoming events include:
- May 5, 2026: Scheduled public hearings.
- Next Thursday: Launch of a separate investigation into forced labor practices in 60 countries.
- Transition Period: New tariffs are expected to replace the temporary 10% rate imposed by Trump for 150 days as an emergency measure.
This initiative poses potential risks to a planned summit between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as well as complicating the renegotiation of the USMCA agreement with Mexico and Canada.
The Trump administration has initiated a global investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act to reinstate tariffs following a Supreme Court ruling. Key trading partners, including China and the EU, are under scrutiny as the U.S. seeks to address perceived unfair trade practices.