Bangkok: The U.S. government has initiated an investigation under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act to examine alleged unfair trade practices involving Thailand and 15 other countries, potentially leading to the imposition of new tariffs. This move comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on February 20, 2026, that President Donald Trump lacked the authority to impose widespread tariffs in April 2025.

According to Thai News Agency, U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer announced in a teleconference that the investigation will target structural overproduction and surplus capacity among the trading partners, which include China, the European Union, India, Japan, and South Korea, among others. The focus will be on sectors exhibiting large trade surpluses or inefficiencies, with the aim of concluding the investigation and announcing new tariffs before the current 10% tariffs expire in July.

Trade data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that Thailand is expected to have a trade surplus with the United States amounting to $71,856 million in 2025, a significant increase from the previous year. This surplus underscores the U.S. concerns over trade imbalances and surplus capacities.

Moreover, the U.S. Trade Representative disclosed plans to propose a Section 301 investigation to ban imports from countries engaging in forced labor practices. This initiative builds on existing measures, such as the ban on solar panels from China's Xinjiang region due to allegations of forced labor, which China denies.