THE Philippines and 59 other countries could be hit by higher tariffs after the United States on Thursday said it was probing failures to act against forced labor.
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said it had started Section 301 investigations to “determine whether acts, policies, and practices of each of these economies related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce.”
Findings could be used to impose higher import duties after the US Supreme Court struck down tariffs earlier ordered by President Donald Trump.
Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo told reporters on Friday that the Philippines would be able to explain why it should not be included.
“If we’re given the opportunity to provide more information and greater interaction and engagement with the US, we will be able to fully explain why we should not be part of the investigations under Section 301 on labor practices,” he said.
Rodolfo did not say which goods being imported by the Philippines could be subjected to the investigation, although reports have said that the US was targeting China over its use of labor camps.
“Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement.
“For too long, American workers and firms have been forced to compete against foreign producers who may have an artificial cost advantage gained from the scourge of forced labor,” he added.
The USTR said that Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 allowed it to “respond to unjustifiable, unreasonable, or discriminatory foreign government practices that burden or restrict US commerce.”
It said that consultations with concerned governments would be held, with hearings to begin on April 28.
“To be assured of consideration, interested persons should submit written comments, requests to appear at the hearing, along with a summary of the testimony, by April 15, 2026,” it added.
Trump imposed an emergency 10-percent tariff, which will expire in July, after last month’s Supreme Court ruling.
Greer has said that he hoped to finish the Section 301 investigations, including the determination of remedies, before the temporary duties end.
