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    Government/Policy

    March 13, 2026

    US steel groups cheer as USTR launches sweeping probe into global overcapacity

    Written by Laura Miller

    The office of the US Trade Representative has opened a major Section 301 investigation into structural excess capacity across global manufacturing, with steel and aluminum at the center of the inquiry.

    Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 authorizes investigations into the acts, policies, or practices of a foreign country to determine whether they are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce. It allows the US to impose unilateral tariffs or restrictions.

    Laura Miller

    Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held various editorial positions with steel industry publications, associations, and mills since 2007. She joined the SMU team in 2022. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

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