美国启动大规模301调查，剑指全球制造业“产能过剩”

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has officially launched a "Section 301" investigation targeting 16 major economies, focusing on the issue of "structural overcapacity" in the manufacturing sector, indicating a shift in U.S. trade policy from a country-specific approach to a global industrial competition perspective [1][6]. Investigation Scope - The investigation will cover major manufacturing centers globally, examining whether the practices of the involved economies are "unreasonable or discriminatory" and impose burdens on U.S. businesses [2]. - The economies included in the investigation are: - Asia: China, Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Taiwan [3]. - Europe: European Union, Switzerland, Norway [4]. - North America: Mexico [5]. Core Allegations - The USTR claims that foreign economies exhibit "structural overcapacity and production surplus" in manufacturing, which poses significant challenges to U.S. re-industrialization efforts. This overcapacity is said to crowd out U.S. domestic production and hinder potential investments in U.S. manufacturing [6]. Legal Procedures - Following the initiation of the investigation, the USTR is required to engage in consultations with the governments of the investigated economies. The USTR has formally requested dialogue with the 16 economies [8]. - A public comment period will begin on March 17, 2026, with a deadline for submissions by April 15, 2026. Public hearings are scheduled to start on May 5, 2026 [9][10][11]. Background and Impact - The "Section 301" is a unilateral retaliatory tool in U.S. trade law, allowing the USTR to impose tariffs or import restrictions if foreign trade practices are deemed "unfair." The initiation of this investigation comes after the U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down certain tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, prompting the government to seek alternative legal tools to maintain trade pressure [12]. - Analysts suggest that focusing on "overcapacity" indicates a shift in U.S. trade disputes from traditional anti-dumping and countervailing duties to a broader industrial policy and market competition perspective, potentially leading to high tariffs on specific industrial goods from the investigated economies, thereby escalating global trade tensions [12].