According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the investigation will examine whether the policies, measures, or production structures of the countries concerned are unfair or discriminatory and whether they adversely affect US trade.
In the case of Bangladesh, the investigation will mainly focus on whether there is spare production capacity in the ready-made garments and cement sectors.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the United States will not allow its industrial capacity to be undermined by other countries. In other words, the US will no longer tolerate situations where excess production from other countries is sent to its market.
He described the investigation as part of President Trump’s broader policy to revive domestic industry.
Separately, on March 12, the United States launched another investigation into whether 60 countries, including Bangladesh, had taken adequate measures to eliminate forced labor in production.
USTR said the investigation will assess whether the laws, policies, and their implementation in these countries are appropriate or discriminatory in the context of restrictions on imports of goods produced using forced labor.
It will also examine whether such policies or practices burden or create barriers to U.S. trade.