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 sectors like aerospace, defense, shipbuilding, and manufacturing. The IAM Union said these practices put U.S. workers at a disadvantage compared to countries with government-backed overproduction or weak labor protections.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced that there will be 60 separate probes under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to 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.”
The investigations will focus on whether policies or enforcement failures allow forced labor to persist in global supply chains. Forced labor is defined as work performed involuntarily under threat of penalty. Despite longstanding prohibitions under U.S. law and international standards, an estimated 28 million people worldwide were trapped in forced labor as of 2021 according to the International Labour Organization—a rise since 2016.
The targeted investigations cover 60 major U.S. trading partners 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 countries have adopted measures against goods made with forced labor, USTR officials say none appear to both adopt and enforce comprehensive bans effectively.
Under Section 301 procedures, the United States will seek consultations with involved governments while gathering public input; comments are invited by April 15 with hearings starting April 28. The probes also address global industrial overcapacity—especially in steel and aluminum—where state-directed production has distorted markets.
IAM leaders say addressing these issues is essential for protecting American manufacturing jobs and ensuring fair competition globally. The AFL-CIO also praised the action: “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,” it said in a statement.
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.
