S&P 500 Slips as Trump Launches Sweeping Trade Investigations

FomoAnxiety · 2026-03-12T14:12:20+00:00

The S&P 500 opened lower as investors reacted to President Trump's new trade investigations affecting 16 countries, including China, focusing on manufacturing excess capacity. Additional probes into 60 countries may lead to tariffs due to forced labor practices.

FomoAnxiety

2026-03-12 14:12:20

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The S&P 500 (SPX) opened Thursday in the red as investors assess the implications of President Trump’s new trade investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

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Initiated by the U.S. Trade Representative, the probes target 16 U.S. trading partners, including China, the European Union, Mexico, and India, focusing on “structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.” Trump could enact new tariffs on the countries if the investigation finds that they engaged in trade practices that burdened the U.S.

USTR Greer Signals New Trade Probes and Possible Tariffs

USTR Jamieson Greer added that the U.S. would announce additional Section 301 investigations against 60 countries as early as Thursday. The investigations will examine if the countries produced goods made with forced labor.

“Responsive action can take a number of forms. It can be tariffs, it can be fees on services, it can be other things,” said Greer.

Section 301 permits the U.S. to set uncapped tariff rates that remain in place indefinitely until removed. However, the tariffs require a review every four years to determine if they should continue.

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