The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) announced on Mar. 17 its support for new investigations by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) into global industrial overcapacity and the use of forced labor in international supply chains.
The issue is significant because unfair trade practices and forced labor can undermine American jobs, especially in manufacturing sectors such as aerospace, defense, shipbuilding, and others. The IAM Union said these practices allow foreign companies to lower costs unfairly, threatening responsible employers in the United States.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced that there will be 60 separate probes under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. These investigations will determine if major trading partners have failed to prevent goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets. “For decades, unfair trade practices and government-backed overproduction overseas have put American workers at a disadvantage,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Workers in aerospace, defense, shipbuilding, and manufacturing should never have to compete with systems built on subsidies, weak labor protections, or forced labor.”
Forced labor is defined as work performed involuntarily under threat of penalty. Despite longstanding prohibitions under U.S. law and international standards, it remains widespread globally. According to the International Labour Organization, an estimated 28 million people were trapped in forced labor as of 2021—an increase since previous years.
The investigations target countries accounting for more than 99% of U.S. imports in 2024, including China, South Korea, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam, and members of the European Union. While some nations have adopted measures against forced labor imports, USTR officials say none appear to both adopt and enforce comprehensive bans effectively.
Public comments are invited by April 15 with hearings set to begin April 28 as part of Section 301 procedures. In addition to forced labor concerns, USTR is also examining industrial overcapacity—especially in steel and aluminum—where state subsidies have distorted markets worldwide.
IAM leaders argue that addressing these issues is vital for protecting American jobs and ensuring fair competition globally. The AFL-CIO has also voiced support for the investigations: “For decades, countries have flooded global industrial markets in an effort to tilt the trade balance in their favor and undermine domestic producers at the expense of union workers and their jobs,” said the federation.
Bryant concluded: “American workers can compete with anyone in the world when the rules are fair… Trade enforcement that protects workers’ rights and stops unfair practices is essential to defending good-paying jobs and rebuilding U.S. manufacturing.” The IAM Union represents about 600,000 active and retired members across various industries throughout North America.
