The North American government announced the start of investigations against 60 countries – including China and Brazil – on Thursday (12 March)
This Monday (March 16, 2026) –including China and Brazil– was classified as “arbitrary and discriminatory, a typical protectionist act”.
The North American investigation was announced on Thursday (12 March) and could result in trade sanctions against countries that the White House determines do not effectively combat forced labor. It is based on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and aims to protect the North American industry from more competitive products due to the practice of forced labor.
According to a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the US does not have the authority to initiate this investigation, as it is behind several of those being investigated in the area of combating forced labor. He cited as an example the non-ratification of the 1930 Forced Labor Convention. On the other hand, China has already ratified 28 international labor conventions.
For the Chinese government, the US investigation is yet another attempt by the White House to justify trade barriers against several countries. The decision to investigate the 60 countries was made less than a month after the US Supreme Court ruled that the .
“The United States’ repeated abuse of the Section 301 investigation procedure, placing domestic law above international norms, is compounding its errors, seriously harming the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains, and seriously disrupting international trade and economic order.”declared the spokesperson.
NEGOTIATION IN PARIS
China’s Ministry of Commerce reported that the matter of the US investigation was brought to the negotiating table held between US and Chinese representatives in Paris.
Initially, the meeting between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng would deal with the current tariffs and would be a preliminary conversation between the parties before the meeting between (Republican Party) and (Communist Party of China) on March 31.
“Currently, China and the US are holding a new round of trade consultations in Paris, France. China has put forward its demands to the United States. We demand that the US immediately correct its wrong practices, find a compromise with China, adhere to the principles of mutual respect and equal consultation, and find a solution to the problem through dialogue and consultation”said the spokesperson.
