The United States government has launched a sweeping trade investigation into Nigeria and 59 other economies over alleged failure to prevent the importation of goods produced with forced labour into their markets.
In a notice released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Sunday, the US said it had initiated a formal probe under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to determine whether the trade practices of the listed economies are “unreasonable or discriminatory” and whether they place a burden on American commerce.
The notice was signed by the General Counsel at the USTR, Jennifer Thornton, who stated that the investigation officially commenced on March 12, 2026.
According to the document, the probe will examine whether Nigeria and the other economies have failed to introduce or effectively enforce bans on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
“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,” the notice stated.
The USTR explained that the investigation will focus on whether the affected economies maintain laws or enforcement mechanisms that prevent goods made with forced labour from entering their domestic markets or supply chains. It will also assess whether weak enforcement, regulatory gaps, or lack of import restrictions in those countries could allow such goods to circulate internationally, thereby undermining efforts by the US to eliminate forced labour from global trade.
“The investigation will examine whether the acts, policies, or practices of these economies are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict United States commerce,” the notice added.
Nigeria is among 60 economies named in the investigation, alongside major global trading partners such as China, India, Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union.
The probe is expected to review policies across several sectors, including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and textiles, which have historically faced scrutiny over labour practices in some parts of the world.
Under Section 301 of the Trade Act, the US government has broad authority to investigate foreign trade practices it considers unfair and to take corrective action if necessary. If the investigation concludes that the practices of any of the listed economies are harmful to US commerce, Washington could impose trade remedies such as tariffs, import restrictions, or other economic measures.
The move reflects growing international pressure on governments and corporations to ensure global supply chains are free from forced labour and other forms of human rights abuse.