Never tolerate an unfair trade playing field that exploits forced labor in China and around the world while undermining American workers' wages and competitiveness.

We will never tolerate an unfair playing field that exploits forced labor in China and around the world while undermining the ability of American workers to earn a fair wage and remain globally competitive.

Smith committed to opposing unfair trade conditions tied to forced labor abroad that harm American workers.

Chairman Smith Applauds Trump Administration’s Strong Action Against Forced Labor Globally - Ways and Means
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.5

The House Ways and Means Committee said Chairman Jason Smith issued a statement after USTR made affirmative Section 301(b) determinations involving 60 economies and forced-labor imports. Smith said the United States should not tolerate an unfair forced-labor trade playing field that harms U.S. workers' wages and competitiveness.

Within the May 6-June 4, 2026 lookback window, Smith reaffirmed the commitment and tied it to a concrete USTR enforcement process. This shows the position remains active, but Smith's statement itself does not complete the policy outcome.

partial same_term

Chairman Smith Applauds Trump Administration’s Strong Action Against Forced Labor Globally - Ways and Means
primary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%

USTR determined that 60 economies' failures to impose and effectively enforce forced-labor import prohibitions are actionable under Section 301(b), and proposed additional duties of 10% or 12.5% depending on each economy's forced-labor import regime.

This is the strongest lookback-window evidence of concrete federal action against forced-labor trade and unfair competition. It is partial rather than full delivery because the tariffs were proposed for comment, with hearings and final action still pending after June 4, 2026.

partial same_term

USTR Makes Findings and Proposes Action in 60 Section 301 Investigations Relating to Failures to Take Action on Trade in Forced Labor Goods
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 93%

The USTR notice says the Trade Representative determined that the investigated economies failed to impose or enforce forced-labor import prohibitions and that the failure burdens or restricts U.S. commerce. It proposes additional duties and sets June 22, July 6, and July 7, 2026 deadlines for hearing requests, comments, and hearings.

The official notice confirms the determinations and proposed remedy, while also showing the remedy was not final as of June 4, 2026. That supports a partial, still-pending outcome.

partial same_term

Notice of Determinations and Request for Comments Concerning Actions in Section 301 Investigations
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 91%

USTR's report lists China among the 54 economies found to have failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced-labor import prohibition, and concludes that these failures subject U.S. producers to unfair competition from forced-labor goods in export and U.S. markets.

The report directly addresses China, forced labor, unfair competition, and U.S. worker competitiveness. It supports partial fulfillment because it provides findings for enforcement, not yet a completed final remedy.

partial same_term

Report in Section 301 Investigations Related to Forced Labor Import Prohibitions
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 92%

USTR initiated 60 Section 301(b) investigations into whether trading partners, including China, failed to impose and enforce bans on imports of goods produced with forced labor, and whether those failures burden or restrict U.S. commerce.

This earlier same-term action shows the enforcement process that produced the June 2026 findings. It supports partial fulfillment but is executive action rather than a Smith-authored legislative delivery.

partial same_term

USTR Initiates 60 Section 301 Investigations Relating to Failures to Take Action on Forced Labor
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 86%

Smith said the China de minimis privilege had been used to circumvent tariffs and avoid detection of shipments violating U.S. laws, including the forced-labor import ban, and said the executive action built on legislation advanced by Ways and Means Republicans.

This shows Smith backing a concrete China trade-loophole closure connected to forced-labor enforcement and American worker competition. It is partial because it addresses one channel of evasion, not the whole forced-labor trade playing field.

partial same_term A for effort

Smith: China’s Free Ride is Officially Over
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 82%

CBP notified trade filers that, effective May 2, 2025, products of China and Hong Kong would no longer receive the de minimis exemption under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C), and ineligible shipments would be rejected for de minimis clearance.

CBP implementation confirms that the China de minimis restriction Smith praised actually took effect. This is a delivered piece of the broader trade-enforcement agenda, but only partial fulfillment of the full commitment.

partial same_term

CBP CSMS #64917563: De Minimis Restrictions for China and Hong Kong Effective May 2, 2025
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 84%

The report submitted by Mr. Smith of Missouri says H.R. 7981 would require the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force to identify and address forced labor in cobalt supply chains from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The committee vote table records Smith of Missouri voting yea.

This documents serious committee action by Smith on China-linked forced labor outside China, but the bill was only reported and not enacted in that Congress. It supports effort and partial progress, not full delivery.

partial unknown A for effort

H. Rept. 118-895 - Stop China’s Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through Cobalt Mining Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 80%

Smith said the new Section 301 forced-labor findings showed too many trading partners still allow goods made with forced labor to compete unfairly, and he reiterated that he would not tolerate an unfair playing field that exploits forced labor in China and elsewhere while hurting U.S. workers.

Smith remained publicly engaged on the issue in the lookback window and tied his position to active federal enforcement, but this is advocacy rather than completed delivery of the broader trade promise.

partial same_term A for effort

Chairman Smith Applauds Trump Administration’s Strong Action Against Forced Labor Globally - Ways and Means
primary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 95%

USTR found that 60 economies' failures to impose and enforce forced-labor import prohibitions were actionable under Section 301 and proposed additional duties, but it also opened the action for public comments and hearings before final action.

This is the strongest concrete federal move in the lookback window: the administration advanced forced-labor trade enforcement materially, but the remedy was still only proposed and not yet final.

partial same_term

USTR Makes Findings and Proposes Action in 60 Section 301 Investigations Relating to Failures to Take Action on Trade in Forced Labor Goods
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 98%

The Federal Register notice set June 22, 2026 for hearing requests, July 6 for written comments, and July 7 for public hearings, confirming that the forced-labor Section 301 remedy remained pending during the lookback window.

The official notice shows the policy process was still open at the end of the lookback window, so the promise was not fully delivered yet.

unresolved same_term

Notice of Determinations and Request for Comments Concerning Actions in Section 301 Investigations
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 96%