[Section 301]

Section 301 is a provision of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, a domestic U.S. trade law that grants the President authority to respond to foreign trade practices deemed unfair. It was enacted in 1974 to provide a legal framework for the U.S. government to address foreign trade practices that were seen as burdening or restricting U.S. commerce. The law delegates authority to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate whether a foreign government's act, policy, or practice is "unjustified, unreasonable, or discriminatory". The USTR can self-initiate an investigation under Section 302(b). If an unfair practice is confirmed, the USTR can take action, including imposing new tariffs, quotas, or suspending trade agreement concessions. Historically, its use decreased significantly after the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995, as the U.S. committed to resolving disputes through the WTO's Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU). However, the Trump administration revitalized its use, notably imposing tariffs on China starting in 2018. More recently, the USTR initiated new investigations in March 2026 against multiple economies, including India, concerning structural excess manufacturing capacity and failure to prohibit imports of goods made with forced labor. Related concepts include the "Special 301" and "Super 301" amendments, which focus on intellectual property rights and identifying priority foreign countries, respectively.