USTR Opens Section 301 Public Hearings on 18 Trading Partners; First Wave Targets Germany Pharma and Japan Auto

Summary

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative opened public hearings on its expanded Section 301 investigations, with the first wave covering 18 trading partners across pharmaceuticals, automobiles, semiconductors, and steel. The Germany pharma probe — first announced June 22 — is set for a Sept 22 hearing. The USTR simultaneously floated new Section 301 China port fees targeting Chinese-built vessels, drawing a sharp letter from the Agriculture Transportation Coalition warning of “immediate and severe” impacts on U.S. agricultural exports. The Section 122 global 10% surcharge expires July 24 unless Congress extends it, putting a hard deadline on refund logistics and tariff restacking.