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The U.S. government has initiated an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act against 16 economic entities, including South Korea, China, and Japan, signaling the possibility of imposing additional tariffs.

US Initiates 'Section 301' Investigation Against South Korea, 15 Other Nations

The U.S. government announced it is initiating an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act, a preliminary step for imposing additional tariffs, against 16 economic entities including South Korea. Jamison Greer, Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR), confirmed in a briefing on the 11th local time that South Korea, China, Japan, and 13 other countries are targets of the investigation. This move is seen as part of the Trump administration's trade pressure, framed as a measure to protect domestic industries.

Background of Section 301 Activation and Future Outlook

The Trump administration can unilaterally impose tariffs through Section 301 of the Trade Act if it determines that foreign governments are engaging in unfair trade practices. This investigation was announced to secure new grounds for imposing tariffs, following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that President Trump's previous "reciprocal tariffs" were illegal. Depending on the future investigation results, target countries like South Korea could face additional tariff pressure from the U.S., potentially intensifying international trade conflicts.

*Source: YouTube: Yonhap News TV (2026-03-12)*

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