U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Tuesday that the USTR is investigating unfair trading practices by more than 70 countries [1].

The move signals a broad effort by the administration to rebuild its tariff strategy after the Supreme Court struck down reciprocal tariffs. By utilizing Section 301, the government seeks a legal mechanism to impose duties on foreign goods based on specific trade violations.

Speaking on CNBC’s "Squawk Box" on June 2, Greer confirmed the scope of the current inquiries. "We're investigating specific unfair trading practices by different countries," Greer said.

Greer said that the investigation under Section 301 was launched at the direction of President Donald Trump [2]. The administration is targeting a wide array of global partners to address alleged imbalances in trade. This approach allows the U.S. to apply targeted pressure on nations that maintain trade barriers or engage in practices deemed unfair to American industries.

Among the most immediate targets is Brazil. The administration has proposed a 25 percent tariff on Brazilian goods [3] in response to these alleged unfair practices. This specific proposal highlights the potential for rapid escalation in trade tensions between the U.S. and major Latin American economies.

The current strategy represents a pivot in how the U.S. handles trade disputes. Rather than relying on broad reciprocal measures, the USTR is focusing on individual investigations to justify the imposition of tariffs. This method provides a documented basis for trade actions that can withstand legal challenges in domestic and international courts.

“"We're investigating specific unfair trading practices by different countries."”

The shift toward Section 301 investigations indicates that the U.S. government is seeking a more legally resilient framework for its protectionist policies. By targeting over 70 countries, the administration is not merely addressing a few outliers but is fundamentally challenging the global trade status quo to prioritize domestic industry.