The United States government has opened a trade investigation into Nigeria and 59 other economies over concerns that they have not done enough to prevent the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
In a notice released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative and obtained on Sunday, the US said it had launched a formal probe under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to determine whether the trade practices of the affected economies are “unreasonable or discriminatory” and whether they place a burden on American commerce.
The notice was signed by the General Counsel at the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Jennifer Thornton. The investigation, which began on March 12, 2026, will assess whether Nigeria and the other listed economies have failed to introduce or properly enforce bans on the importation of goods made with forced labour.
The notice stated, “The Trade Representative is initiating investigations with respect to acts, policies, and practices of the economies listed in Annex A of this notice related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.”
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Nigeria is one of 60 economies listed in the investigation, alongside China, India, Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union.
According to the USTR, the probe is meant to determine whether the lack of effective import bans on forced-labour goods in these economies creates unfair conditions that disadvantage American businesses.
The agency said that although many countries prohibit forced labour within their borders, weak restrictions on imports still allow companies to source products made under such conditions through global supply chains.
“For almost 100 years, US law has prohibited the importation of goods mined, produced, or manufactured in whole or in part with forced labour,” the notice stated, adding that the policy reflects humanitarian, foreign policy and national security concerns.
It said forced labour gives producers an artificial cost advantage, allowing them to sell goods at lower prices and distort competition in global markets.
Global estimates cited by the USTR show that forced labour remains widespread. The International Labour Organisation estimates that about 28 million people were in forced labour worldwide as of 2021, representing about 3.5 out of every 1,000 people.
The notice added that the number of people subjected to forced labour rose by about 2.7 million between 2016 and 2021, largely driven by exploitation in the private sector. The ILO also estimated that profits generated from forced labour in the global private economy reached about $63.9bn annually in 2024.
According to the USTR, the practice affects entire global supply chains. Products linked to forced labour include agricultural commodities, textiles, minerals, fish products and palm oil derivatives used in food and biofuel production.
The US government warned that goods produced under such conditions can still find their way into global markets even after being denied entry into the United States, creating competition for American companies. “In markets without forced labour import prohibitions, US exports are required to compete with products produced wholly or in part with forced labour,” the notice said.
As part of the investigation, the USTR will consult with the governments of the economies under review and gather information from stakeholders. The agency has also invited written submissions from businesses, labour groups and other interested parties on whether the affected economies have introduced or are developing laws to prohibit the importation of forced-labour goods.
It is also seeking information on whether the absence of such policies has led to lost US exports, reduced economic output or wage pressure on American workers.
Public hearings on the investigation will begin on April 28, 2026, at the US International Trade Commission in Washington, DC, and may continue until May 1.
Stakeholders interested in participating in the hearing or submitting written comments must do so through the USTR’s electronic portal by April 15, 2026. After the hearings and consultations, the Trade Representative will determine whether the practices of the economies under investigation are actionable under Section 301 of the Trade Act.
If the findings confirm unfair trade practices, the United States may impose trade measures, including additional duties or import restrictions on goods from the affected economies.