Bloomberg reported on July 9 that India submitted a response to the USTR refuting allegations of forced labor, stating that the U.S. proposal to impose tariffs on Indian goods lacks evidence. This week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) held multiple public hearings in Washington under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, reviewing how various countries are implementing import bans on goods produced using forced labor. The U.S. investigation concluded that relevant countries—including India—have neither established nor effectively enforced import bans on goods made with forced labor, meaning products from these nations could face additional tariffs of 10% or 12.5%. In response, the Indian government submitted written materials to the USTR denying the forced labor allegations, and Indian officials also rebutted these claims during public hearings in Washington. India emphasized that the U.S. had not provided concrete, evidence-based proof targeting specific countries or products, making it impossible to substantiate claims about forced labor being used in India’s major exports to the U.S. India stated it already has a legal and policy framework in place to prevent forced labor. India also criticized the U.S. for inconsistent policy standards: while listing coffee and similar products on the forced labor risk list, the U.S. simultaneously grants tariff exemptions for such items. According to reports, the U.S. is restarting its Section 301 investigation and preparing new rounds of trade protection measures. India reiterated that formal trade agreement negotiations will only proceed after the U.S. completes its full Section 301 investigation. India believes labor policy differences should be addressed through bilateral trade negotiations between the U.S. and India, arguing that unilateral U.S. tariffs instead harm American domestic businesses.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870402715312256/
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