On April 17, 2024, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it had initiated a new investigation pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. This investigation focuses on the acts, policies, and practices of the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) that USTR says seek to establish global dominance in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. USTR’s announcement follows its review, in consultation with the interagency Section 301 Committee, of a petition filed in March 2024 by labor unions requesting a Section 301 investigation.
