India challenges a US Trade Representative (USTR) proposal to impose additional tariffs under Section 301 over alleged forced-labour concerns, raising objections during a public hearing. Brij Mohan Mishra, Joint Secretary in India’s Ministry of Commerce, tells the USTR panel that the US approach is inconsistent with its policy rationale. India says the US provides exemptions for about 1,600 products that cannot be produced or grown in the US, which India argues weakens efforts to address forced-labour impacts and to prevent circumvention.
Mishra also argues that the investigation and tariff methodology do not meet the legal standards required under Section 301(d), and that the absence of a forced-labour import ban alone cannot be treated as an unfair trade practice without supporting evidence. India questions the lack of country-specific assessment across dozens of economies grouped under a common determination, and says it has legal and regulatory safeguards to prevent forced labour.
Indian industry bodies, including FICCI and CII, oppose the proposed tariffs. They say the lack of credible evidence linking Indian production to forced labour inputs, and warn that broad tariff measures would increase costs for exporters, US importers and retailers, and consumers, without improving identification of forced-labour goods. Industry groups also ask for concerns to be addressed through the India-US Trade Policy Forum rather than unilateral tariff action.
