U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Friday that his office will open a series of investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. According to Greer, the inquiries will be broad in scope, covering most major trading partners and focusing on several distinct areas of concern, among them pharmaceutical product pricing.
Greer linked the new reviews to developments following a Supreme Court decision that struck down tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% which had been imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He said the Trump administration remained confident that all trade agreements negotiated by President Donald Trump would continue to be effective notwithstanding that court ruling.
The representative outlined topics that the Section 301 investigations could address. He pointed to industrial excess capacity as a potential area of scrutiny. Forced labor in supply chains was flagged as another issue under consideration. Pharmaceutical pricing practices were explicitly mentioned as a subject for review. Greer also said the probes could examine allegations of discrimination against U.S. technology companies and discrimination affecting digital goods.
The announcement did not specify the precise timing of the investigations, nor did it name particular countries or partners that will be targeted. The statement described a set of policy concerns to be explored through the Section 301 process, but left details about individual cases, schedules, and potential remedies unspecified.
Officials framed the forthcoming actions as a broad examination of trade practices and policies across multiple domains. The list of potential topics reflects an interest in both traditional trade issues, such as industrial capacity, and more contemporary concerns tied to technology and pharmaceuticals.
Observers will be watching for follow-up actions from the U.S. Trade Representative's office that clarify which partners and specific practices will be investigated under Section 301 and what measures, if any, might result from those inquiries. For now, the administration's statement emphasizes the scope of the reviews and its view that previously negotiated trade agreements remain intact after the recent Supreme Court decision.
Contact: The U.S. Trade Representative's office provided the announcement as a summary of forthcoming investigative activity; no further procedural details were included in the statement.