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An American flag flies in the Port of Los Angeles in the US. (Yonhap file photo)

The US Trade Representative (USTR) has officially launched a series of new trade investigations into “structural excess capacity and production,” with Korea listed among the countries subject to scrutiny. 

The initial probe will not investigate platform regulations and the digital industry — an area which Coupang investors formerly demanded a USTR investigation.

In an official notice published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, the USTR announced that it would be initiating a series of investigations pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. These investigations are aimed at the policies and practices of various countries in relation to structural overproduction in the global manufacturing industry. The US government plans to examine whether measures including subsidies, state-owned enterprise activity, export incentive policies, restrictions on market access, financial support and currency practices are triggering excess production. 

The investigations will target 16 countries and regions in total, including Korea, China, the European Union, Japan, India, Mexico, Vietnam and Taiwan.

The USTR is set to establish an “open docket” on March 17 for the submission of opinions and applications to attend public hearings. The deadline for submissions is April 15, and public hearings are scheduled to begin May 5. After the last day of the public hearing, there will be a seven-day window to submit rebuttals. 

After the review of written submissions, the hearings, the submission of rebuttals and discussions with the country in question, the USTR will reach a final conclusion and, where necessary, propose measures including tariffs, the imposition of a service charge, or negotiations.

In a telephone briefing with the press that day, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated the goal was to complete the investigation before the expiration of Section 122 tariffs in 150 days. 

Containers fill the Port of Los Angeles in California, US, on March 10, 2026. (Reuters/Yonhap)

The Trump administration has been relying on Section 301 of the Trade Act as an alternative lever for tariffs since last month’s Supreme Court verdict striking down the reciprocal tariffs the president had imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The 10% global tariff currently levied under Section 122 will automatically expire after 150 days unless approved by Congress.

The upcoming investigation cited in the Federal Register announcement is limited to the issue of excess production. In the press briefing, Greer noted that depending on US industry demands, further investigations could follow into areas including a digital services tax, the pricing of pharmaceuticals, access to marine products and grain markets, and marine pollution.

The possibility remains that the digital trade barrier issue could be targeted by a separate investigation. Major investors in Coupang previously urged the US government to conduct a Section 301 investigation over claims that Korea’s digital regulations discriminate against US companies, but the request was later withdrawn.

By Kim Won-chul, Washington correspondent

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