(Source: "International Business Daily" 2026-03-13)
Recently, the United States has launched a new "301 investigation" on many of the world's major trading partners on the grounds of "overcapacity" and said that it can impose new tariffs based on the investigation results to replace the tariff measures that were previously rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. Judging from the reality of international economic and w88 rules and bilateral exchanges, the US move not only seriously violates the rules of the World w88 Organization (WTO) and undermines the international economic and w88 order, but also ignores and abandons the consensus reached by the heads of state of China and the United States and the results of the Kuala Lumpur economic and w88 consultations.
First, using 301 investigation is unilateralism and illegal behavior. "Section 301 Investigation" originates from Section 301 of the U.S. w88 Act of 1974, which authorizes the United States to conduct unilateral investigations and impose sanctions on so-called w88 violations by other countries. According to WTO rules, w88 disputes should be handled through the dispute settlement mechanism, and unilateral retaliatory measures are not allowed. The United States ignores its international obligations, launches investigations on trading partners and imposes unilateral tariffs based on domestic law. It places domestic law above international law and undermines the multilateral trading system. The WTO expert group has ruled that the previous US Section 301 tariff measures against China violated WTO rules. However, the US not only failed to correct it, but also intensified it, attempting to use this illegal tool against more trading partners, continuing to undermine the stability and authority of international economic and w88 rules.
Second, it ignores the consensus reached by the two heads of state and the results of previous economic and w88 consultations. The healthy development of Sino-US economic and w88 relations requires both sides to move in the same direction. In October 2025, the economic and w88 leaders of the two countries held constructive economic and w88 consultations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and reached basic consensus and joint arrangements around extending the reciprocal tariff suspension period, agricultural product w88, export control and other issues. At the end of 2025, the heads of state of China and the United States met in Busan, South Korea, had an in-depth discussion on economic and w88 relations, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in economic and w88 and other fields. These achievements should be the cornerstone of the "forward-looking" bilateral economic and w88 relations. However, the United States has launched a new Section 301 investigation, insists on promoting unilateral measures, goes back on its word, and undermines the foundation of mutual trust.
Third, the US’s reasons are untenable in terms of facts and logic. To measure whether there is overcapacity, we must consider the global market and medium- and long-term demand, and cannot simply use a country's output and export volume as the standard. Otherwise, the United States' own large exports in the fields of aircraft, automobiles, agricultural products, high-end chips, etc. should also be accused of "exporting excess production capacity." In fact, China's new energy products mainly supply the domestic market, and the proportion of new energy vehicle exports in output is much lower than that of some developed economies. They are not dumped overseas at low prices, but rely on the comparative advantages formed by technology, scale and a complete industrial chain. In the context of the global promotion of green and low-carbon transformation, China does not have "overcapacity" in fields such as new energy vehicles and photovoltaics, but "high-quality production capacity is in short supply." The United States generalizes "overcapacity" as a political label and a tool for Section 301 investigations. In essence, it is curbing competition in the name of protectionism. It harms the collective interests of the global response to climate change and seriously deviates from WTO rules and basic principles of market economy.
Fourth, unilateral tariffs are illegal, and another increase in disguised tariffs undermines stability. It is worth noting that the U.S.’s unilateral tariff increase policy has reached a dead end in terms of its domestic legal principles. On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court clearly ruled that the president's invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose large-scale tariffs on global goods was an illegal and ultra vires act. Against this background, the United States is trying to change the name and use the Section 301 investigation as a reason to impose unilateral tariffs on its trading partners, looking for a new substitute for its illegal w88 protectionist behavior. This approach goes against the spirit of the rule of law and is also a deliberate attempt to undermine international economic and w88 relations.
The essence of Sino-US economic and w88 relations is mutual benefit and win-win results. The United States insists on advancing the Section 301 investigation involving China, which is neither consistent with objective facts nor supported by legal principles. The United States should return to the right track of implementing the consensus reached at the meeting between the two heads of state and the results of the Kuala Lumpur consultations, stop all unilateralism and w88 bullying, focus on cooperation, and maintain the overall stability of Sino-US economic and w88 relations.（The author Ji Wenhua is a professor at the National Institute for Opening up and Law w88 casino of the w88 casino; Zhang Miao is a doctoral student at the Law w88 casino of the w88 casino）
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